STOKE crashed to a 53-37 defeat against Mildenhall in the National League at West Row on Sunday afternoon.

The Potters went behind early on with a couple of 4-2 advantages from the home side, before the Potters gained their on 4-2 from David Wallinger and Joe Alcock after Tigers Henry Atkin had fallen, leaving the Potters trailing by 2-points after the opening four heats.

Mildenhall gained a maximum 5-1 from Danny Ayres and Matt Marson after Ayres had slowed to allow Marson to come around him blocking the Potters riders coming through to extend the Tigers lead with the Potters trailing 21-15.

Disaster then struck the Potters as both guest Jordan Jenkins and Luke Priest have a nasty crash in the first turn of heat 7 with Jenkins being taken off the track in the ambulance with hip and leg injuries and Priest shoulder. Much to Potters manager Adam Isherwood’s amazement Jenkins walked back from the ambulance battered and bruised and he elected to continue to ride through the pain barrier despite being far from fit, but Priest had to withdraw with a shoulder injury as he couldn’t hold onto the bike.

Stoke continued to battle on and kept to within six points of the Tigers before Ayres and Marson took a 5-1 over Jenkins as the Tigers started to pull away with a couple of 4-2’s and a 5-1 to open up a 51-33 lead.

The Potters finished the meeting with a 4-2 from Tom Perry and Wallinger over Ayres but it was the Tigers that took the points.

Potters reserve Joe Alcock commented “It’s disappointing to lose this afternoon, but we lost the meeting when Luke Priest got injured and Jordan Jenkins also got hurt but he’d obviously been beaten up in the fall and wasn’t 100%. I also feel we missed both Joe (Lawlor) and Connor (Coles) this afternoon they are in such good form at the moment and I think they may have scored a few more points, but that is no reflection on either Jordan or David Walinger it’s just the form that Connor and Joe are in. On a personal note it was a great meeting for me scoring 9+2 and that is my best score in league racing at this level and I aim to continue pushing Shelby (Rutherford) for that top five place in the team. It’s good to have some friendly competition as I know Shelby wants it also and it’s therefore good for the team as we are all pushing each other.”

Luke Priest is taking a trip to hospital to assess the damage to his shoulder.

MILDENHALL 53: Danny Ayres 12+2, Matt Marson 9+1, Henry Atkins 9, Jason Edwards 8+1, Charlie Brooks 8, Elliot Kelly 5, Arran Butcher 2
STOKE 37: Tom Perry 13, Joe Alcock 9+2, Jordan Jenkins 7, David Wallinger 6+1, Shelby Rutherford 1+1, Corban Pavitt 1+1, Luke Priest 0

The Potters now have a break until their next meeting when they travel to Kent on Monday July 22nd.