They were tipped by many at the start of the season to make a clean sweep of all in front of them, but after a series of injuries the Isle of Wight after being beaten 47-43 last night by the CTA Fire Kings, now face an even tougher challenge to reach the play offs. This was the fifth home league win, taking their tally to six victories on the bounce at Central Park with many supporters wishing that the season was just starting rather than drawing to a close.
Kings skipper Steve Boxall started the evening with his customary heat 1 win, while the Islanders then led briefly following a re-run heat 2. Benji Compton and David Mason combined for maximum points in heat 3 to put the Kings into the lead and no more than six points separating the sides until Islanders youngster Adam Ellis took a heat 8 win with team mate Chris Widman combining for a 1-5 to edge ahead of the Kings by two points. Two shared heats followed until Ben Morley and Adam Kirby popped in an awarded 4-2 heat advantage in heat 11 following Darryl Ritchings crashing on the exit of turn two, third lap.
David Mason with Jack Kingston gave the Kings the advantage and four points up in heat 12, while heat 13 was a shared event with Boxall taking the flag. Kingston a busy man at reserve backed up Compton in heat 14 and an eight point lead for the Kings, 46-38 confirming the win although the meeting points were still up for grabs. Islanders pair of Ellis and Tom Perry leapt to a 1-5 in heat 15 securing the Islanders a valuable point in the play-off run in.
With Ben Morley, Compton and Mason providing a solid force the Kings were able to let two retirements from Boxall go unpunished especially with Kingston again piling on the points from the reserve berth with 9+3 return. The visitors although previous winners at Central Park in the National Trophy and KO Cup always had a fight on their hands while again down in numbers without influential skipper Ben Hopwood but still managed to put up a spirited display.
It was also understandable that Adam Kirby was below par after suffering crashed heavily going over the handlebars in a Midland Development League meeting at Stoke. Luckily no bones were broken as first feared in his hand but soft tissue damage was diagnosed.
Ben Morley again was called in to guest for Rye House Rockets in their two Premier League fixtures on Saturday; first off he helped them beat Scunthorpe 50-40 with a 6+1 return and following that a 5 point tally in the victory over Redcar Bears 55-35.
Something very special for all the Kings supporters will be an auction to take place at the end of the season for an Arai VX Pro helmet belonging to and worn by Benji Compton. This is no ordinary crash helmet, "The helmet will be signed by all the Kent team plus other riders I meet on my travels, maybe a few more Elite riders," said Benji Compton. "I'm using the helmet at the moment but want to help raise funds in aid of Ricky Ashworth, he is a very good friend of mine and I would like to support the family with the medical and travelling costs."
It's a super quick return to Smallbrook for the Kings in their penultimate away League fixture this evening at 7.00pm with both sides due to remain unchanged.
Teams for Tuesday (Not in riding order):
ISLE OF WIGHT ISLANDERS from: Brendan Johnson, Adam Ellis, Ben Hopwood (rider Replacement), Daniel Stoneman, Darryl Ritchings, Chris Widman, Tom Perry, Team managers: Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd
KENT CTA FIRE KINGS from: Ben Morley, Jack Kingston, Benji Compton, Adam Kirby, Steve Boxall (C), Connor Coles, David Mason, Team manager: John Sampford
Monday 2nd September 2013 KENT CTA FIRE KINGS 47 1. Steve Boxall (C) 3, 3, R, 3, R, = 9 2. Connor Coles 1, 0, 1, = 2 3. David Mason 2', 0, 2, 3, = 7+1 4. Benji Compton 3, 2, 1', 3, 1, = 10+1 5. Benjamin Morley 3, 2, 3, 0, = 8 6. Adam Kirby 1, 0, 1, = 2 7. Jack Kingston FX, 2', 0, 3, 2', 2', = 9+3 Team manager: John Sampford
ISLE OF WIGHT ISLANDERS 43 1. Tom Perry (C) 2, 3, 2, 2, 2', = 11+1 2. Ben Hopwood Rider Replacement 3. Brendan Johnson 0, 1, 3, 1', 1, = 6+1 4. Darryl Ritchings 1, 1, 2, FX, 1, = 5 5. Adam Ellis 1, 2, 3, 3, 1', 3, = 13+1 6. Daniel Stoneman R, 3, 1', 0, 0, = 4+1 7. Chris Widman 2', 0, 2', 0, = 4+2 Team managers: Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd
REFEREE: Michael Posselwhite
GATE POSITIONS: Kings won the coin toss and took gates 1 and 3 in heat 1. Islanders took gates 1 and 3 in heat 15.
