STOKE Easy Rider Potters went down to a 49-41 defeat against league leaders Birmingham in the National League at Loomer Road on Saturday night.

The Potters started brightly as Jon Armstrong and Chris Widman 4-2 over Brummies guest Max Clegg, but Birmingham struck back with a 4-2 from former Potter Adam Kirby and Ben Basford over Shaun Tedham to level the scores.

The Potters again forged ahead with a maximum 5-1 from Lee Payne and Tedham who rode well to keep Brummies skipper Tom Perry at bay. The Potters were again pegged back as Birmingham gained a 4-2 from Clegg and Alex Wilson over Ryan Terry-Daley reducing the Potters lead to two points before the Potters struck with a 5-1 from Armstrong and Widman over Perry to give the Potters a 21-15 lead after six heats.

But it was literally a meeting of two halves as Birmingham struck with a 5-1 in heat nine from Perry and Kirby over Danny Phillips to reduce the Potters lead to two points and then Zac Wajtknecht teamed up with Sam Chapman over Armstrong to level the scores, Wajtknecht clocking 62.6 to be just 0.4secs outside Richie Worrall’s 2012 National League track record.

The Potters cause was also hampered with the loss of Chris Widman who was taken ill and had to withdraw from his final ride.

The league leaders then powered home two maximum 5-1 heat advantages and two 4-2 advantages to take a 49-41 victory.

Potters skipper Jon Armstrong commented “It’s obviously a disappointing result but we all did our best against a very good Birmingham side who are not top of the table for nothing. We will now dust ourselves down and prepare for our next meeting against King’s Lynn next Sunday, July 5th.”

STOKE 41: Jon Armstrong 11, Shaun Tedham 9+3, Ryan Terry-Daley 6, Lee Payne 6, Chris Widman 5, Danny Phillips 3, Paul Burnett 1+1.
BIRMINGHAM 49: Zach Wajtknecht 13+1, Adam Kirby 11+1, Tom Perry 9+2, Max Clegg 9, Sam Chapman 5, Alex Wilson 1, Ben Basford 1.