STOKE Easy Rider Potters went down to a 59-33 defeat against Cradley Heathens in the City Gearboxes National League at Perry Barr on Wednesday night.

The Potters got off to the worst possible start as the Heathens gained two maximum heat wins and a 4-2 in the opening four heats leaving the Potters trailing by ten points with the score 17-7 in favour of the Heathens.

Potters team boss Malcolm Vasey wasted no time in nominating skipper Jon Armstrong as a tactical ride in heat five and the Potters gained a 5-3 heat advantage as Armstrong and Danny Phillips finished behind home reserve Ellis Perks leaving the Potters trailing 20-12.

The Potters fell further behind as Perks and Arron Mogridge combined for a 5-1 over Shaun Tedham and Ryan Terry-Daley to give the Heathens a 31-19 which was extended a couple of heats later as Max Clegg and Mogridge combined for a maximum heat win over Phillips and Terry-Daley with the Heathens then gaining a 4-2 in heat eleven as Matt Williamson took the chequered flag ahead of Armstrong and Heathen Tyler Govier leaving the Potters trailing 43-25 after eleven heats.

The Potters stemmed the series of heat advantages for the Heathens as they gained a drawn heat as Terry-Daley and Tedham took the minor placings behind Perks for a drawn heat.

Cradley finished the meeting off with two 4-2 heat advantages and a 5-1 as the Potters crumbled to a 59-33 defeat.

Stoke team manager Malcolm Vasey commented “it was a very disappointing night especially when your riders can't win a single race between them you quite simply aren't going to win a speedway match. There were some good effort and I wouldn't lay the blame at everyone's door, but we did look very weak at times and we just weren't good enough on the night."

CRADLEY 59: Ellis Perks 20+1, Max Clegg 15, Matt Williamson 14, Arron Mogridge 8+4, Tyler Govier 2, Adam Extance 0, Nathan Greaves R/R.
STOKE 33: Lee Payne 9, Danny Phillips 7+1, Jon Armstrong 7, Ryan Terry-Daley 4+2, Shaun Tedham 4+1, Paul Burnett 2+2, Chris Widman R/R.
National League points: Cradley 3 Stoke 0