ISLE OF WIGHT 45 POTTERS 45 - STOKE WIN ON AGGREGATE 91-89
Tuesday 08 May, 2012
STOKE Easy Rider Potters gained a dramatic 45 all draw against the Isle of wight at the Smallbrook Stadium on Tuesday night to gain their first piece of silverware of the season the Wightlink Trophy beating the Islanders 91-89 on aggregate.
The Potters Were unfortunate not to gain maximum points in the opening heat after Steve Worrall fell while leading the race, his partner Ben Reade taking the flag for a drawn heat. Reade continued his impressive start to the meeting taking victory in the second race of the night for a second drawn race before Paul Starke and Danny Warwick broke the deadlock on the night with a 4-2 heat advantage over Tony Atkin and Rhys Naylor to give the Islanders a 10-8 lead after three heats.
Stoke hit back in the next race with a 4-2 from Richie Worrall and Reade over Gary Cottham to level the scores up after four heats.
The Potters kept their slim two point aggregate lead as Steve Worrall, Richie Worrall and skipper Tony Atkin all took heat victories in the following three heats to keep the scores tied at 21 all at the halfway stage of this second leg.
The Islanders take a four point lead in the next heat as Paul Starke takes the chequered flag ahead of partner Gary Cottham who swooped from last place to take second from Ben Reade after Richie Worrall retired to give the Islanders a 26-22 lead on the night.
After a couple of drawn heat Stoke struck back with a 4-2 from Steve Worrall and Reade over Ben Hopwood and Danny Stoneman to level the scores on aggregate while the Potters still trailed on the night 34-32 with just four heats remaining.
The Islanders pairing of Gary cottham and Danny Warwick then produced the race of the nice as Warwick rode a superb race holding the Potters pairing of Atkin and Walter at bay as Cottham swooped from last to first to give the Islanders a maximum 5-1 heat advantage as they Potters trail by six points after twelves races with the Potters trailing 39-33.
The Easy Rider Potters were not finished though as the Worrall brothers Steve and Richie stormed to a comfortable victory over Kyle Hughes and Hopwood to take maximum points in heat thirteen and level the scores again on aggregate at 84 all with the Potters trailing 40-38 on the night with just two heats remaining the meeting was left on a knife edge.
The Isle of Wight edge back in front with a 4-2 in heat fourteen from Starke and Cottham over Reade and Naylor to open up a four point lead on the night and a two point lead on aggregate leaving the Potters needing maximum points in the final race or a 4-2 to draw the meeting on aggregate.
Danny warwick and Paul Starke are nominated by the Islanders management while Steve and Richie Worrall are selected by Potters team boss Malcolm Vasey, and it was the Potters pairing of Richie and Steve that stormed to victory with Starke in third for a maximum 5-1 heat win as the Potters gain a 45 all draw giving the Easy rider Potters a 91-89 victory on aggregate.
A delighted Easy Rider Potters team manager Malcolm Vasey commented "I cannot praise the lads enough they were absolutely superb and they did the club proud tonight. This team is a team that will fight all the way and they showed their commitment tonight and the evening was topped off with Richie winning the bronze helmet match race. The Worrall twins (Richie and Steve) were superb for us tonight as was Ben (Reade) who is showing what he is capable of. Tony had quite a few problems with his bikes and is doing his best to rectify the problem while Ross Walter was unlucky not to score a couple of points tonight. Although Rhys did not score we have to remember he is returning to the sport after a long lay off and it may take a little longer to get him going but he is not far off and I'm sure he will come good for us."
Isle of Wight 45: Paul Starke 12+2, Gary Cottham 10+3, Kyle Hughes 7+1, Danny Warwick 7+1, Danny Stoneman 5+1, Ben Hopwood 4, Marc Owen Rider Replacement Stoke 45: Richie Worrall 15, Ben Reade 13, Steve Worrall 10+2, Tony Atkin 7+1, Rhys Naylor 0, Ross Walter 0, Jaimie Pickard Ridere Replacement
The two top scorers Richie Worrall for the Potters and Paul Starke for the Islanders then raced off for the coverted Bronze Helmet match race title and it was the Potters Richie Worrall that took the the chequered flag ahead of Starke to round off a superb evening for the Potters.