STOKE A.R. Richards Potters completed their 2018 campaign with a defeat against Travel Plus National League Champions and KO Cup winners Eastbourne Eagles losing out 41-49 at Loomer Road on Sunday evening.
The injury hit Potters drafted in former Potter Danny Phillips after Nathan Stoneman had not been able to make the trip and Stephen Whitehouse stepped in at the last minute to replace Corban Pavitt who had crashed at Buxton in the afternoon.
Eastbourne took the lead with an opening heat 5-1 before the Potters struck back with a 5-1 in the following heat from Paul Burnett and Joe Alcock to level the scores. The following two races were drawn heats with skipper Max Clegg taking victories on his way to an untroubled 18-point maximum. The Eagles then showed their form with two 5-1 advantages in the following four heats with Phillips and Adam Sheppard gaining a 4-2 in between and Clegg taking this third victory and a 4-2 for the Sussex club gave them a 23-31 lead after nine heats.
Clegg took victory in three of the last six races as the Eagles settled for minor placings for reel off six drawn heats and take all four points on offer for them to end a successful season for the Eagles.
Potters reserve Joe Alcock said “It was a battling performance by the team tonight and Eastbourne are a tough team having won both the league and cup this season. We were up against things before we hit the track today with having to find guests at the last minute with Danny Phillips coming in and replacing Nathan (Stoneman) and Stephen Whitehouse agreeing to ride after Corban (Pavitt) had been injured at Buxton and he had less that an hour’s notice so we just had to do the best we could in he circumstances. Max (Clegg) has been on fire and Paul Burnett and I have ben chipping in with points also, it would have been nice to win our final meeting of the season but Eastbourne are on a high and powered through in the end.”
STOKE 41: Max Clegg 18, Paul Burnett 7+1, Joe Alcock 6+1, Danny Phillips 6, Adam Sheppard 4+1, Stephen Whitehouse 0, Rob Shuttleworth r/r. EASTBOURNE 49: Tom Brennan 11, Georgie Wood 10+2, Mark Baseby 9+1, Jason Edwards 8+3, Sam Woolley 5+2, Ethan Spiller 4+2, Nick Laurence 2.
