STOKE A.R. Richards Potters suffered their first defeat in three seasons’ at the Central Park circuit losing out 56-34 to the Kent Kings in the Travel Plus National League on Monday night.
Stoke drafted in Sam Bebee for Chris Hay at reserve, while they operated rider replacement to cover for the absence of Shaun Tedham.
The Potters did not get off to the best of starts as they suffered three 4-2 reverses in the opening four heats giving the Kings a 15-9 lead with only skipper Tony Atkin registering a heat victory in heat three.
Kent gained a further 4-2 heat advantage as David Mason got the better of Ben Wilson who had suffered an engine failure in the first heat with James Shanes finishing third.
The Potters gained their first heat advantage of the night as Ben Hopwood took the chequered flag ahead of Luke Clifton with Sam Bebee third for a Potters 4-2 leaving the Potters trailing 21-15 after six heats.
The Potters kept the Kings lead at just six points for the next few heats filling the minor placings but in heat ten Luke Bowen and Clifton combined for a maximum 5-1 to give the Kings a ten-point advantage.
Ben Wilson took victory in heat eleven ahead of Danny Ayres and Danno Verge, it was then downhill all the way for the Potters though as they suffered two 4-2’s and two maximum heat 5-1 advantages for the Kings to give Kent a comfortable victory on the night.
Potters team manager Malcolm Vasey commented “It was a difficult night for us against a good side and we were in with the chance of a point until the final few heats, but I do feel that the score line flattered them in the end.”
KENT 56: Luke Bowen 12, James Shanes 10+2, Jack Thomas 10+2, Danny Ayres 9, Danno Verge 7+1, David Mason 5, Luke Clifton 3. STOKE 34: Ben Hopwood 9, Ben Wilson 7, Tony Atkin 7, Paul Burnett 5+1, Danny Phillips 4+1, Sam Bebee 2+1, Shaun Tedham R/R.
