The Wightlink Warriors speedway team looked set to be defeated at Smallbrook Stadium last night (Tuesday), but a turn of events saw the local side clinch a 1 point victory in the last heat over the Mildenhall Fen Tigers in the National League.
In the first 5 heats of last night’s meeting just about everything that could have gone wrong for the Wightlink Warriors did, leaving them trailing by 8 points at 11-19. It started well enough with Joe Jacobs and Kelsey Dugard registering a 4-2 heat advantage but the next 4 heats saw a bizarre chain of events for the home side.
Heat 2 saw debutant Phillips fall on the third bend of the second lap and by the time referee Ronnie Allan put the stop lights on, the other 3 riders had completed 2 laps giving Ronnie the power to award the race with Tyler Govier in third place. A 5-1 advantage also followed in heat 3.
At the first attempt to run heat 4, Phillips demolished the starting tapes incurring the referee’s wrath and a 15 metre handicap. Following a protest from Mildenhall’s team manager Kevin Jolly, James Cockle was disqualified from the re-start for leaving the track as he had returned to the pits – something not allowed under the rules. The only option open to team manager Neil Vatcher was to replace the skipper with reserve Tyler Govier for his third consecutive race – but he delivered by getting to the front and staying there for his share of the points.
Lee Smart slid off on the last lap of heat 5 whilst in second place, which saw the Warriors trailing by that 11-19 score and seemingly on their way to defeat.
Joe Jacobs and Kelsey Dugard gave a hint of what was to come with a maximum heat win in heat 6 and 4 races later at the end of heat 10, the Warriors were still 6 points adrift despite Jacobs completing a hat-trick of wins.
Tyler Govier (pictured right) had the Warriors’ fans in raptures by re-passing Mildenhall’s number 1 Connor Mountain to snatch victory on the last lap of heath 11 and with James Cockle finishing third, with just 4 heats remaining, the local team found themselves just 4 points adrift. That 4 point deficit remained as heat 12 produced a 3-3 draw.
Warrior Joe Jacobs raced to the front in heat 13 with team mate James Cockle pushing into second place, only for the race to be stopped on the third lap following a fall by Fen Tiger Alfie Bowtell. Referee Ronnie Allan awarded the Warriors pair a maximum 5-1 win in the heat and the teams were level at 39 points apiece with just 2 races to go.
The Isle of Wight side went into the penultimate race and amazingly Lee Smart and Tyler Govier led from the tapes, but Govier’s bike dramatically started to lose power resulting in him being forced to retire and thus it was 42 points apiece.
In heat 15, Joe Jacobs flew from the start chased by Fen Tiger Connor Mountain with James Cockle third, but in another strange sequence of events Fen Tiger Halsey slid off and before the red lights were switched on James Cockle fell separately. The track’s medical crew raced to both riders but, much to everyone’s relief, both riders were able to get to their feet and walk somewhat dejectedly from the circuit.
With both the riders excluded from the re-start it came down to a match race between Joe Jacobs and Connor Mountain. As the tapes rose it was Jacobs who shot to the front, staying there to not only complete an immaculate 5 ride maximum but to secure the Wightlink Warriors 45-44 victory, maintaining their unbeaten home league run in the process.
FINAL SCORE: WIGHT WARRIORS 45 MILDENHALL 44 (Travel Plus National League)
League Points: IOW 3 Mildenhall1
Isle of Wight: Joe Jacobs 15, Tyler Govier 9+1, Kelsey Dugard 8+1, Lee Smart 8, James Cockle 5+1, Nick Phillips 0, George Piper v(No.8) did not ride
Mildenhall: Dan Halsey 12, Connor Mountain 10, Connor Coles 9+3, Chris Widman 8+2, Luke Ruddick 4, Alfie Bowtell 1
