After a week of trials and tribulations, the Wightlink Warriors speedway team put those troubles aside to register their first win of the season by beating the Lakeside Hammers 49 – 41 at Smallbrook Stadium last night (Thursday).
With Tyler Govier absent with injury and young Alex Spooner guesting at reserve, the Warriors faced a Lakeside line up featuring last week’s impressive visitor Zach Wajtknecht and the experienced Ben Morley. It was Morley who created the first piece of action on the night by touching the tapes in heat 1 and being handed a 15 metre penalty.
With rain starting to fall and getting heavier Jamie Sealey took his first ever race win for the Warriors in heat 2 whilst heat 3 was run in conditions that made visibility for the riders very difficult and prompted a meeting between the referee, team managers and captains.
Fortunately the rain was easing and to the credit of all parties’ heat 4 proceeded with a great tussle between the Warriors guest Liam Carr and Zach Wajtknecht of the Hammers which went in favour of the visitor who was picking up from where he left off last week. Despite the difficult conditions, the Warriors were able to provide 10 of the 15 heat winners and with the Chris Widman and the reserves chipping in valuable points, the Warriors only needed 2 points from the last race to take victory. Carr and skipper James Cockle duly obliged with a 5-1 win awarded after the Hammers number 1 Ben Morley fell at the end of lap 3.
Warriors were warmly cheered on their victory parade and co-Promoter Barry Bishop was clearly delighted as he took the centre green microphone to praise all of his team, the encouraging crowd, the work of the track staff and the professionalism of all riders especially the visitors who offered full co-operation and support in getting the meeting through to a safe and satisfactory conclusion.
Wightlink Warriors 49 Lakeside Hammers 41
Warriors: scores: Ben Wilson 9, Rider Replacement for Tyler Govier, James Cockle 13+1, Chris Widman 6+1, Liam Carr 14, Jamie Sealey 6+2, Alex Spooner 1, Jamie Bursill DNR.
Hammers: Ben Morley 5+1, George Hunter 7+2, Rider Replacement for David Mason, Alfie Bowtell 10+1, Zach Wajtknecht 14, Jamie Couzins 3+1, Nick Laurence 2.
Warriors now have a week to explore team re-structuring with the next action at the Andrew Younie Smallbrook Stadium on Thursday 18th May at 19:00 when the powerful Cradley Heathens are the visitors in the National League.
