STOKE A.R. Richards Potters gained their second victory on the bounce as they gained a 35-31 victory over the Belle Vue Colts at the new National Speedway Stadium, despite the meeting being abandoned after eleven heats the result standing.
The result though was not enough for the Potters as they crashed out of the National League KOC losing out on aggregate 83-73 leaving the Colts to go forward and face Birmingham in the next round.
The Potters started brightly with three 4-2 heat advantages in the opening four heats as the Potters provided all of the opening four heat winners which included a first ever National League heat win for David Morgan to give the Potters a 15-9 lead after four heats.
The Colts recovered with two successive 4-2 advantages in the following two races before Potters veteran skipper Tony Atkin took victory in heat seven for a Potters 4-2 with Danny Phillips taking third to leave the Potters leading 23-19 at the midway point of the meeting.
Belle Vue levelled the scores in heat 8 with a maximum 5-1 heat advantages from Tom Woolley and David Holt over Shaun Tedham and then a further 4-2 from Matt Williamson and Rob Shuttleworth over Ben Wilson put the Colts in front 28-26 after 9 heats.
The Potters struck back to regain the lead in heat 10 as skipper Tony Atkin took the chequered flag ahead of partner Danny Phillips with Daniel Bewley and the Potters followed this with a further 4-2 from Ben Hopwood and Shaun Tedham over Lee Payne to extend the Potters lead to four points with the Potters leading 35-31 before the rain became too continue resulting in the meeting being abandoned after eleven heats.
Team manager Malcolm Vasey commented “I was delighted with the performance in very difficult conditions. There had been heavy rain throughout the day and drizzle during the meeting before track conditions finally brought a halt to the meeting. Tonight proves we are capable of going and doing a job anywhere. Everyone rode hard tonight on a track that they’ve never seen before and they all deserve the credit for their performance. There is a real buzz about the team right now and we look to continue that against Rye House back at Loomer Road in the league on Saturday night.”
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg BELLE VUE 31: Matt Williamson 8, David Holt 6+1, Tom Woolley 6, Daniel Bewley 4, Lee Payne 4, Rob Shuttleworth 2, Joe Lawlor 1+1. STOKE 35: Tony Atkin 9, Ben Hopwood 8, Ben Wilson 7, Danny Phillips 4+1, Shaun Tedham 3, David Morgan 3, Paul Burnett 1. Abandoned after 11 heats - Rain - RESULT STANDS Belle Vue win 83-73 on aggregate