AFTER an enforced break due to the weather over the last couple of weeks Stoke return to action against Mildenhall in the National League at Loomer Road on Saturday night, 7pm.

The Fen Tigers have made a couple of changes to their line-up recently with former Potter David Wallinger and Macauley Leek making way for Henry Atkins and Arran Butcher who make their debuts for the Tigers on Saturday. The Suffolk club will be without number one Danny Ayres and Charlie Brooks and will utilise the rider replacement rule for the latter with Ayres being replaced by former Stoke rider Max Clegg. Jason Edwards and Matt Marson complete the main body of the team with Butcher teaming up with Elliot Kelly at reserve.

The A.R. Richards Potters will be looking to kick start their season and get a win on the board against the Tigers and the meeting sees’ Joe Alcock move into the main body of the team with the new averages having come out with Shelby Rutherford dropping to reserve.

Potters team manager Adam Isherwood commented “Mildenhall are a very useful looking side and have a good spearhead in Max Clegg who replaces Danny (Ayres) at number one in their side and they have strengthened up with the signing Henry Atkins who is also riding for Somerset in the Championship so we will need to be at our best. Despite the enforced break we have had due to the weather a few of the lads have had guest bookings recently with Tom (Perry) and Joe (Lawlor) both helping the Leicester Lions Cubs beat Cradley recently and Connor Coles guested in the Championship for Birmingham on Wednesday in their win over Newcastle so they have been getting some rides to keep themselves match fit. Joe Alcock moves into the top five and I’m sure will be looking to cement his place in the main body of the team while Shelby (Rutherford) drops to reserve so we should be okay at reserve as we look to gain our first win and the meeting has a little bit of added spice with Malcolm Vasey returning to Loomer Road looking to get one over me on Saturday and I’m looking to send him home empty handed.”

STOKE: Tom Perry (Captain) Joe Alcock, Joe Lawlor, Luke Priest, Connor Coles, Corban Pavitt, Shelby Rutherford
MILDENHALL: Max Clegg, Charlie Brooks (Rider Replacement), Henry Atkins, Jason Edwards, Matt Marson, Arran Butcher, Elliot Kelly