WARRIORS NARROWLY DEFEATED AFTER ACTION AND CRASH-PACKED NIGHT AT SMALLBROOK

The Isle of Wight Warriors slipped to a narrow defeat in a curtailed event at Smallbrook last night (Thursday). Against a strong looking Kent side, the Warriors were always going to be up against it, but they took to the task with a show of determination from the off. Ex-Warrior Ben Morley duly won Heat 1 but he was followed home by teenager Sonny Springer and captain Arran Butcher for a shared heat. Heat 2 saw riders having problems with the track on turns 1 and 2, but it was visitor’s Nathan Hargrave who came down on turn 3 after an exuberant effort going into the corner and with his partner Dale Wood slowing in front of him, the heat was stopped and Hargrave adjudged to have been the cause of the stoppage. In the re-run it was returning homester Danno Verge who, with an excellent pass of Wood, stormed to victory, but Woods machine once again started slowing allowing Henning Loof through for a home 5-1 and an 8-4 lead. The visitors hit back immediately with the sensational 15-year-old William Cairns showing just why Belle Vue rushed to snap him up this week and Aussie Patrick Hamilton hit a 1-5 against a somewhat subdued Chad Wirtzfeld who himself was returning from injury. Ben Morley provided the race of the night with pillar-to-post victory over Verge to win the 4th, but again the home side tucked in to share the heat and keep the scores level. Heat 5 was stopped after Wood got into difficulty on turn 2 resulting in home rider Morgan Williams being unable to avoid him and Hargrave collecting the duo in what looked a horrific spill. There was a long delay as both riders lay stricken on the track as medic rushed to their aid. After some 25 minutes, the track was clear with Wood excluded and both the Aussie and Williams unable to take any further part in the meeting. Sonny Springer replaced Williams to win the re-run with Hargrave hanging onto 2nd place from Wirtzfeld as the home side took a 16-14 lead. The spectacular Cairns won a blistering heat 5 coming off of a 15m handicap as was Springer who has failed to make the 2-minute warning, with Butcher retiring from the race Hamilton’s 3rd place levelled things up one again at 18 apiece. Heat 7 saw Morley off of 15m, but his response was a joy to watch as he picked off the opponents one by one, with a sublime last bend swoop past Verge to snatch the victory and keep the scores level at 21-21. Cairns was at it once again winning Heat 8 from Wirtzfeld with Springer taking 3rd, Hargrave a faller once again. 24-24. With the track curfew looming fast there was time for 1 more heat, Cairns won it but with Verge second and Loof holing third a draw looked on the cards, but Verge came down on the 3rd lap, the race was stopped and awarded at a 2-4 to the visitors. With no time for any further action, the meeting was brought to an end with the final score of 26-28 declared as a result. The teams will meet on Sunday for the 2nd leg and with Wood out for at least 2 weeks with cuts and bruising and Williams doubtful, there will be some busy rider searching before then. Isle of Wight 26 – Kent 28 Warriors; Butcher 2+2, Springer 8+1 Verge 7, Loof 5+2, Wirtzfeld 4, Williams 0. Kent; Morley 9, Woods 0, Wood 1, Hargrave 2, Hamilton 4+1, Cairns 12 The next Action at Smallbrook is Thursday when the GT140’s are in action.