STOKE completed a quickfire double over local rivals Buxton as they took a 50-39 victory in the Travel Plus National League at Loomer Road on Sunday night.

Both teams were reduced to five men with David Wallinger being ruled out for the Potters and Corban Pavitt being ruled out for the Hitmen after this afternoon’s clash at Hi-Edge Raceway.

The Potters went into an early lead taking three 4-2 heat advantages in the opening four races to lead 15-9 with Anders Rowe and Adam Extance in the opening heat being followed up by Paul Burnett and Joe Alcock with Max Clegg and Burnett giving the home side the advantage. Buxton gained a 4-2 back in heat five as former Potter Ben Wilson took victory from Burnett with Lewis Whitmore taking third but the A.R. Richards Potters struck back immediately with two 4-2 advantages of their own as Rowe and Extance and then Clegg and Alcock pressed the Potters advantage home with the Potters leading 25-17 after seven heats,

The Potters gained a further advantage in heat nine after the race was stopped when leader Joe Lawlor guesting for the Hitmen slowed due to a mechanical failure with the bike catching fire with Lawlor grabbing the fire extinguisher at the start line to put the fire out, referee Phil Griffin halting the race due to safety and awarding the race to Extance with Kieran Douglas second for a Potters 3-2. Buxton gained a 4-2 in heat twelve before Stoke struck with a 5-1 from Clegg and Rowe over Lawlor after Wilson had fallen to seal the points for the Potters.

Potters skipper Max Clegg romped to his second 18-point maximum of the day and he received solid support from Paul Burnett guest Anders Rowe and Adam Extance while Alcock slowed as the evening went on in only his second meeting back after a shoulder injury.

Potters team manager for the day Adam Isherwood commented “We are delighted to get all seven points today and the team rode really well. Buxton did push us in both meetings maybe a little harder than we expected and they deserve some credit for that as there was some really good racing. Max (Clegg) was in a class of his own and you cannot do better than 36-points out of 36 and Anders Rowe was excellent for us along with good performances from Joe Alcock who hadn’t been on a bike prior to today’s meetings since his injury and it was good to see Paul Burnett getting amongst the points and Adam Extance getting a couple of race wins under his belt which will do him the world of good confidence wise.”

STOKE 50: Max Clegg 18, Paul Burnett 11+1, Anders Rowe 9+2, Adam Extance 9, Joe Alcock 3+1, David Wallinger dnr, Rob Shuttleworth r/r.
BUXTON 39: Tom Woolley 13+2, Joe Lawlor 9, Ben Wilson 7, Lewis Whitmore 5+1, Kieran Douglas 5, Corban Pavitt dnr, Connor Coles r/r.