Another superb performance from Luke Bowen ensured the Kent skipper took maximum benefit from this early season Tunnel Trophy event – a full house 15 in both legs; but ultimately it was not enough, just, to see his charges home in the second leg against Lakeside Hammers on Friday night (21/4).
The hosts had sprung a surprise with their team selection, drafting in the veteran Paul Hurry – the Canterbury-born racer reappearing for an Arena Essex-based Hammers side some seven years since injury had forced him into premature Speedway retirement. Quite how long-standing the comeback will be for the former GB U-21 champion and multiple national & European champion on the Grass remains an unknown quantity; but talking of quantities surely the average of just over 8 he appeared under at the track in Thurrock on Friday would not be his agreed figures should he contemplate a Travel Plus National League [TPNL] comeback in earnest.
The meeting started well for the visitors, with the SLYDE-backed Kings wiping out the three points deficit they had gone into the second leg handicapped by, in just two heats. Bowen emphatically beat the previously unbeaten this season at the Raceway, Ben Morley in a twice run opening heat – his team mate and namesake Luke Clifton had been a faller in the first staging. It was not to be a happy return to his one time Arena Essex home for Clifton - the other Canterbury-born former Hammer on show falling also in both his other outings and remaining pointless.
Heat 2 was a much needed 5-1 for the visitors, though – Alex Spooner getting his first away points as a King and with a win to boot and partner Bradley Andrews showing admirable pluck to keep the homesters’ Jamie Couzins at bay. And with the in-form Ben Hopwood (who has started his Kent career absolutely splendidly, returning another double points score - his fourth in four matches) beating David Mason in heat four, it meant that the SLYDE Kings led on aggregate after three heats.
Hurry was at the tapes in heat four for the first time in a domestic Speedway meeting for close to seven years – and he didn’t disappoint or look track rusty: holding off a dogged Spooner to claim the first three points of his ‘comeback’. With Nathan Stoneman (who came into the meeting nursing a nasty rib injury) a faller in this his first ride of the evening, it was a 4-2 to the Hammers, meaning they trailed on the evening by two points and moved back into the narrowest of aggregate advantages.
There was to be only one 5-1 for the home side but it was a turning point for the destiny overall of the Tunnel Trophy tie and came in heat six. The riders were kept at the tapes interminably long and Stoneman blinked first, going through the tapes. This meant that it was the reserve pairing of Andrews and Spooner having to face up to Morley and, returning after being left out of the first leg, George Hunter. Kent’s Kiwi Andrews put in a splendid shift chasing down Hunter but to no avail and suddenly the aggregate deficit was up to five.
The ex World Long Track rostrum man Hurry was living up to his name in making up for lost time in his previously curtailed Speedway career, holding Hopwood and Jack Thomas at bay in the next race; but any thoughts that it was be entirely his night were dashed by the superb Bowen who stormed to a brilliant heat 11 win over the 42 year old. Before that, they’d been the race of the night involving a resurgent looking David Mason, his team mate Alfie Bowtell and the Kings’ brave Welshman, Stoneman. Hard as flint, Nathan defied the pain barrier to pass first Bowtell then Mason and hold on when the former League Riders champ came back at him on the closing straight. It brought the house down and kept the Kings in the battle for victory on the night – the margin now four points.
That heat 11 beating of Hurry could’ve been even better for the visitors as Spooner was holding off Laurence until the end of lap three, going out of shape to let the Hammers’ reserve through. Heat 12, though, saw the margin reduced. Hopwood went into his now obligatory double figures with an excellent win over Mason and Andrews (improving meeting on meeting held off Couzins – now it was two down on the evening; a reachable five points deficit on aggregate.
Heat 13 pitched Bowen and Stoneman against the two Lakeside big-hitters Morley and Hurry. It was the latter who took chase after the fast trapping Kent skipper but to no avail. The drama came on the last bend. The third-placed Morley’s bike spluttered to a near halt but behind at the exact same moment Stoneman toppled off. This allowed Morley to just make it over the line to tie the heat 3-3, with Stoneman a frustrated remounter just behind.
So to the penultimate race with the SLYDE Kings needing a 4-2 at least to retain hopes of aggregate success. Instead it went to that score to the Hammers, with Bowtell holding off his young rival Thomas. Time then for Bowen to complete his master class and dominance over Morley & Hurry in heat 15 and to receive the mandatory bumps from his team mates.
The challenge matches in the Easter Chase and Tunnel Trophy may have both resulted in narrow aggregate losses but there is plenty to be optimistic about for the SLYDE Kings when the proper TPNL business gets underway in May.
Lakeside Hammers 47 [93] 1. Ben Morley 2,3,3,1',2, 11+1 2. George Hunter 1',2',3,0 6+2 3. David Mason 2,2,2,2 8 4. Alfie Bowtell 1',1',1',3 6+3 5. Paul Hurry 3,3,2,2,1' 11+1 6. Nick Laurence 0,0,1' 1+1 7. Jamie Couzins 1,1,1,0,1 4
Kent SLYDE Kings 43 [86] 1. Luke Bowen 3,3,3,3,3 15 [M] 2. Luke Clifton Fx,F,0 0 3. Ben Hopwood 3,2,2,3,0 10 4. Jack Thomas 0,1',1',2, 4+2 5. Nathan Stoneman 0,X,3,0 3 6. Bradley Andrews 2',1,0,1 4+1 7. Alex Spooner 3,2,0,2,0,0 7