STOKE Easy Rider Potters took all three points as they gained a 50-40 victory over Coventry Storm in the City Gearboxes National League at Loomer Road on Saturday night.

The Potters took the lead in heat two with a maximum 5-1 from Shaun Tedham and Paul Burnett over Callum Walker, but Storm struck back with a 4-2 from the impressive Martin Knuckey and debutant Mark Baseby over Danny Phillips before the Potters returned the compliment in heat four from Lee Payne and Tedham over Darryl Ritchings to leave the Potters leading 14-10 after the opening four races.

Coventry levelled the scores in heat five with a maximum 5-1 from former Potter Rob Shuttleworth and Dan Greenwood over Ryan Terry-Daley, but the Potters gained two 4-2 heat advantages in the next two heats to lead 23-19 at the midway point of the meeting.

The Potters extended their lead in heat eleven with a further 4-2 from Payne and Burnett over Greenwood to open up a six point lead before Stoke sealed all three points in the final race as Payne completed a five ride maximum with partner Jon Armstrong holding Greenwood at bay after Martin Knuckey had been disqualified after he fell in the original staging of the race to complete a 50-40 victory for the Potters.

Stoke team boss Malcolm Vasey commented “It was a hard fought victory and a deserved one which moves us back up the table once again. It was a solid team performance from the whole team with everyone chipping in with vital points and we will look to continue this into tomorrow’s meeting at Coventry.”

The Potters will be unchanged for clash at Coventry’s Brandon Stadium on Sunday afternoon at 4pm when the two sides meet for the second time in the space of twenty four hours.

STOKE 50: Lee Payne 15, Jon Armstrong 10+1, Shaun Tedham 7+1, Paul Burnett 5+2, Danny Phillips 5+1, Chris Widman 4+1, Ryan Terry-Daley 4+1.
COVENTRY 40: Martin Knuckey 10, Rob Shuttleworth 9, Darryl Ritchings 8+1, Dan Greenwood 7+1, Mark Baseby 5+1, Callum Walker 1, Jamie Halder 0.