The eagerly awaited National League clash with the table topping Dudley Heathens provided a giant killing with the Kent CTA Fire Kings toppling the Heathens 49-41. Not only that Kings skipper Steve Boxall retained the Bronze Helmet turning this Bank Holiday Monday into a very productive hot summers afternoon for the men from Kent.
Yesterday afternoons' result will be quite a shock to the rest of the National League with the Heathens unbeaten run coming to an end at the hands of the CTA Fire Kings securing all three points in hot dusty conditions in front of a packed out Central Park Stadium. On top of this there was controversy, some attempted heat of the moment fisticuffs, solid team riding from the improving Kings and spectacular action in the summer sun.
For skipper Boxall it was a case of riding through the pain barrier to firstly retain the Bronze Helmet from challenger Ashley Morris before notching an under par 7 points in the main meeting. Heat 13 saw fireworks between the two rivals with attempted fisticuffs. Boxall left straight from the track to visit A&E to have the pelvic injury suffered two days earlier while guesting for Isle of Wight at Stoke which was causing a great deal of pain throughout the meeting checked out.
Whilst Boxall was understandably under par his team mates rallied round with Ben Morley top scoring with 12 points holding off some fierce challenges, David Mason popped in a paid maximum 10+2 his best return for the Kent side while down at reserve Jack Kingston once again showed his promise with a 10 point haul. Benji Compton's partnership with Mason is certainly producing the goods points wise with a much more solid feel to the Kings.
The visitors without number one Lewis Blackbird who was riding for his Premier league side Scunthorpe elected to operate the rider replacement facility which in hindsight they may now be regretting. Form rider in the League Paul Starke lead the Heathens with a good 13 point haul while Morris had a solid 10+1.
The Kings achieved their best ever start to a meeting with no heat advantages going to the opposition until a heat ten 5-1 for with Starke combining with a fast starting Isherwood brought the visitors back to a four point deficit. Following the interval the racing manoeuvre of Central Park Stadium's short history was witnessed with Kingston storming through from last to first around the boards to secure a maximum in heat 12 with Mason over Starke which put the Kings 10 points up.
Talking about Kingston and that heat 10 team boss John Sampford said, “It was without question one of the races of the season here – massive credit to Jack for showing just what can be done and excitement like that will keep our crowds coming back for more.â€
A jubilant team boss, Sampford added, “Sometimes one can run out of superlatives to describe a performance, to take on and beat the League leaders and in truth, actually make it look a relatively straightforward job just shows how as a team we've grown in the second half of this National League campaign.â€
Next for the Kings is the visit of the Isle of Wight Islanders next Monday at 6.30pm with the return across the Solent at the Smallbrook Stadium the following day at 7.00pm
KENT CTA FIRE KINGS 49 1. Steve Boxall (C) 3, 3, 0, 1, = 7 2. Connor Coles 1, 0, 0, = 1 3. David Mason 2', 3, 3, 2', = 10+2 4. Benji Compton 3, 0, 1, 3, 0, = 7 5. Benjamin Morley 3, 2, 3, 3, 1, = 12 6. Adam Kirby 1, 0, 1, = 2 7. Jack Kingston 3, 0, 3, 1, 3, FX, = 10 Team manager: John Sampford
BRONZE HELMET MATCH RACE CHAMPIONSHIP: Steve Boxall (Red) vs Ashley Morris (White) Morris won the coin toss and took the inside gate. Boxall (Holder) beat Morris (Challenger) retaining the Bronze Helmet
REFEREE: Barbara Horley
GATE POSITIONS: Heathens won the coin toss and took gates 1 and 3 in heat 1. Kings took gates 1 and 3 in heat 15.
