STOKE moved off the foot of the Travel Plus National League table with a 31-28 victory over local rivals Buxton in a meeting curtailed after ten heats due to time constraints but most importantly for the Loomer road club the result stands.

The A.R. Richards Potters edged in front in what was a tight meeting with a 4-2 in the opening heat from Mitchell Davey and Paul Burnett over Ben Hopwood, but the Hitmen struck back immediately with a 4-2 of their own with Alex Spooner taking the chequered flag ahead of Burnett with Lee Geary taking third place.

The scores remained level after five heats and it was the Potters pairing of Davey and Burnett that took another 4-2 with Hitmen rider Max Clegg splitting the Potters pairing and again the Hitmen were not going to be outdone as recently married Buxton skipper Tom Woolley gained victory over Lee Dicken with Geary taking third to again level the scores.

Heat eight saw two riders disqualified as firstly Alex Spooner fell and then Burnett caught Shelby Rutherford which saw the Hitmen rider fall heavily and withdrawn from the meeting with Burnett being disqualified. In the rerun David Wallinger took a comfortable victory over Geary to give the Potters a narrow 24-23 lead.

Max Clegg showed his class in the penultimate race as he took a comfortable win over Wallinger and Tony Atkin and it was the Potters that gained a decisive 4-2 heat win with Davey taking his third victory on the bounce over Woolley and Burnett who was third to gain an important victory.

STOKE 31: Mitchell Davey 9, Tony Atkin 7+1, David Wallinger 5, Lee Dicken 5, Paul Burnett 5, Joe Alcock 0, Ryan Terry-Daley r/r.
BUXTON 28: Tom Woolley 7, Max Clegg 7, Lee Geary 5+1, Alex Spooner 4+1, Ben Hopwood 4, Shelby Rutherford 1+1, Ryan Kinsley r/r.
Abandoned after Heat 10 (time constraints) – Result stands
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