The Mildenhall Fen Tigers, proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery, came out on top in a close encounter against the Leicester Lion Cubs, but the cost of victory was very high.
Early in the meeting Luke Ruddick picked up unexpected grip on the first bend after a super fast start and ended his meeting under the airfence. Excluded from the rerun Ruddick was then withdrawn from the meeting with a leg injury. The early exchanges saw the Cubs go five points ahead after only five heats before a 4-2 and a 5-1 in heats six and seven saw the Fen Tigers take a lead that would not be relinquished until the end of the meeting.
The meeting was marred by a horror crash for popular youngster Sam Hagon who hit the air fence hard after a first bend incident. After a long delay, whilst Sam was attended to before being taken to hospital, an incredible decision saw Fen Tigers Nathan Ablitt excluded to the astonishment of the crowd and management!
All six remaining Fen Tigers contributed well with Sam Bebee and Elliot Kelly showing good form whilst heat leaders Jordan Jenkins and Jason Edwards both hit double figures.
Team Manager Malcolm Vasey said after the meeting “Whilst pleased with the victory, the loss of Luke and Sam was hard to take and we hope that their injuries are not as bad as they seemed at the time. Sam has gone off to hospital for a full check up and hopefully there is nothing too much to worry about there. We will regroup now and look ahead to our remaining meetings and keep pushing on the best we can in the circumstances we find ourselves in’
Scores
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 47
Jenkins 10+1 (5 rides) , Edwards 10 (5), Kelly 8+2 (5), Hagon 7+1 (4), Bebee 7+1 (4), Ablitt 5+1 (6) and Ruddick 0 (1) w/d
Leicester Lion Cubs 41
J. Thompson 14 (6 rides), D Thompson 11+2 (5), Trigger 8+1 (5), Spencer 4 (5). Simpson 4 (6), Ward 0 (3) and R/R Lawlor