The Isle of Wight’s Wightlink Warriors speedway team had high hopes of securing vital league points against the Buxton Hitmen on Sunday, but things didn’t quite go according to plan.
With Ben Wilson confirming his physical and mechanical fitness, things were looking positive ahead of Sunday’s meeting but hopes were soon to be dashed when Nathan Greaves phoned to report an injury following a crash on Saturday night. The Warriors management were left to make a series of frantic calls to find a guest replacement at very short notice – it came in the shape of Ryan Terry-Daley from Stoke.
Worse was to follow when a further call was received from skipper James Cockle who had been caught up in the aftermath of a serious road traffic accident and would not get to the Derbyshire circuit in time to make the meeting. The only cover available was to switch the Rider Replacement facility from the injured Tyler Govier to Cockle’s number 3 position and introduce Buxton youngster Sam Woolley at number 2.
With Buxton tracking their preferred top 7 for the first time this season, it was another uphill struggle for the weakened visitors and whilst Wilson and Woolley got the Island side off to a good 4-2 start, things went badly wrong from there on with only 1 further race win and 10 5-1 heats conceded throughout the meeting.
Team Manager Martin Widman could hardly believe the day’s events as they unfolded:
“After our encouraging performance at Swindon we were looking forward to carrying on the good work here today, but the withdrawals left us in pieces with one heat leader, two second strings and three reserves plus rider replacement and that was never going to be enough against the Hitmen who were buoyed up by tracking new signing Max Clegg”.
Buxton Hitmen 66 | Isle of Wight Warriors 24
Hitmen – Max Clegg 12+2, Ben Basford 7+2, Shelby Rutherford 9+2, Tom Woolley 10+1, Matt Williamson 15, Lee Geary 5+2, Carl Basford 8+2
Warriors – Ben Wilson 10, Sam Woolley 2, Rider Replacement for James Cockle, Chris Widman 6, Ryan Terry-Daley 4+1, Jamie Sealey 1, Ryan MacDonald 1
Heavy rain yesterday (Monday) put paid to the Warriors’ planned National League speedway match in Birmingham. The meeting will be re-arranged for later in the season.
Warriors next action will be on Thursday 1st June at 19:00 at the Andrew Younie Smallbrook Stadium when Plymouth Devils visit in the National Trophy.
