CARMARTHEN DRAGONS 18

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 12

WEYMOUTH Wildcats fell to their second straight defeat losing 18-12 to the Carmarthen Dragons at Stoke in the Midland and Southern Development League.

James Laker’s hat-trick of second places helped notch six points, while James Jessop claimed his first race win of the year and two third place finishes helped Cesca Kirtley-Paine to two points.

However, this was not enough to beat a consistent Carmarthen side in which only one member failed to claim a race win.

The meeting was not a repeat of the tight 18-16 loss for the Wildcats in the reverse fixture, both teams’ most recent league meeting.

The meeting only saw five heats due to a curfew on the meet, something which an injury to Wildcat Ben Phillips impacted due to the time it took to address.

Former Wildcat Luke Barnes had to withdraw after heat two due to mechanical problems.

The stand out moment of the night came in the fourth heat, when Jessop claimed his first race win in the Midland and Southern Development League, with Laker fending off Adam Barber admirably to help his side to a 5-1.

Laker’s intervention was key to holding off Barber and securing the points, even if it mattered little in terms of the overall result as the Dragons won 18-12 after the next heat.

James Tresadern, Wildcats co-promoter, told Echosport: “We lost Ben Phillips after his first ride, because he fell, he was leading at the time, he came off on the exit of bend four on lap three.

“I think the track caught him off and he went into the fence and that was him over for the night, damaged his bike and his left knee I believe.

“Jessop, obviously his first race win in M&SDL and Laker stopping the other rider in the heat. Laker shepherded him home. So he put the brakes on and the other guy could not pass.

“There were quite a few people who heaped praise on James Laker for the way he shepherded James Jessop home to the win.

“Everybody scored except for Ben obviously but he was leading at the time so I mean the outcome could have been a lot better for us. But I am really pleased with the way the guys rode.

“I think there are lot of people now who are starting to look at James Laker and he is pushing himself and he knows he is probably borderline National League now I think.

“He is doing really well and people are noticing.”