Fen Tigers knew they'd been in a match

REPORT Sunday 9th July 2023, 8:07pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

The Mildenhall Fen Tigers went to the top of the National Development League table with today's 48-41 victory, but they knew they were in a fight and it would not have taken much to swing the match the way of the Stellar Academy.

Team boss Scott Wilson ended the match a little frustrated that things hadn't worked out differently. "This was one we let slip, there's no question about it," he said. "Some mistakes and the track catching us out in a couple of instances have cost us a win.

"I felt at the heat 10 interval that we were in with a great chance of winning, looking at the remaining heats. After pulling ourselves back to within 1 point we just couldn't finish the job.

"However we have pushed a good side all the way and put ourselves in contention to collect the aggregate point at home later in the season."

The early stages were over-eventful on a difficult track with riders on both sides coming off when well placed. Adam Roynon had heat 3 in the bag, and likewise Lee Complin in heat 4, but both were last bend fallers!

Dayle Wood won heats 2 and 8 and a lot was clearly going to depend on him, the strongest reserve. Max Clegg (heat 5) and Jacob Hook (heat 9 also landed crucial race wins and after Hook's 3-pointer we were just a point down.

Micky Simpson lost an important point by falling in heat 11 but we got that back with a 4-2 from Adam and Dayle in heat 12 and with just a point deficit we were still well in things with three heats to go.

Jacob Hook did well to pass Bowtell in heat 13 but we lost that 4-2 and the final nail in our victory hopes was a 5-1 loss in heat 14 when Dayle came to grief.

A very good win for Hook in heat 15 over Complin and Bowtell completed the match.

Frustrating Fact: Our missing second string Alex Spooner scored paid 48 in his final 3 league matches at Mildenhall last season. Sadly though he remains unfit and not really optimistic about a speedy return. Obviously Jamie Halder in spite of his best efforts could not compensate for that.

Full Result Details