Cool for Cats

After last Monday's frustrating 48-45 defeat at Scunthorpe, when mechanical gremlins and refereeing decisions failed to go their way, the pressure was on the hosts to give their campaign a much needed kick-start and they did not disappoint in front of a jubilant home crowd.

Jem Dicken's side have been lauded as potential title challengers and on this showing it was clear to see why as a fairly strong Sitting-bourne line up was simply brushed aside.

Jon Armstrong and skipper Karl Mason led the way for the hosts by scoring paid maximums but every Wildcat tasted success on what could prove to be a defining night in their season.

Team manager Dicken said: "I am very happy. Sittingbourne are no pushovers and to win in such a comprehensive way with everyone contributing like that is fantastic.

"We now need to produce that every week.

"Karl and Jon led from the front and it was just an excellent meeting. There was some great overtaking and to be fair the result maybe does not do it justice."

Brendan Johnson ensured the Wildcats got off to a great start by leading from the front in heat one but it was the Mighty Midget' Armstrong that lit up the arena with a fantastic manoeuvre to undertake Harland Cook on the final bend to record a 5-1.

Tim Webster followed up by taking victory in the next race but unfortunately for the home side Kyle Newman fell on the second bend of the opening lap causing the points to be shared.

However, that still did not deter the hosts and in heat three they secured another maximum thanks to faultless rides by winner Mason and Luke Priest, who did well to hold off Jerran Hart to grab second.

Already 13-5 adrift, the Crusaders desperately needed a lift and when Newman hit the dirt for a second time in the following race it gave the visitors an ideal opportunity but Andre Cross suffered the same fate in the re-run and Herne won the third attempt, beating Aaron Baseby.

Leading by nine points the Wildcats looked like they were strolling and when Mason overtook Felton, followed by Priest shortly after it, looked like another 5-1 was on the cards but referee Christine Turnbull called a halt to the race, excluding the latter for unfair riding.

Dicken felt the decision was harsh on Priest due to the fact he squeezed through without making contact but the Wildcats' boss was back smiling again in heat six when business returned to usual with Armstrong and Johnson grabbing their side a third maximum.

Trailing by 13 points, Sitting-bourne handed a tactical ride to Hart in the following race and it looked like it was going to be wasted when Herne and Webster hit the front but the Crusaders' number four darted past both men in quick succession to take a vital win.

Newman's problems continued in the next when he fell twice more and was excluded in the interest of safety but Johnson ensured that no damage was done by taking the chequered flag ahead of Cook and Baseby.

Still smarting from his exclusion in heat five, Priest went out with a point to prove in nine and alongside Mason delivered a 5-1 to take the score to 35-21 in the home side's favour and from there on in the result never looked in doubt.

Hart continued to impress for the Crusaders despite a heavy fall in 15 but further heat victories for Armstrong, Herne, Mason and Priest ensured the Wildcats' dominance continued to the end.

There was even a piece of success for Newman who bounced back from his earlier disappointments by recording a maximum in heat 12 in front of Priest.

The home fans gave the youngster a deserved ovation, which put the seal on what proved to be a fantastic evening's racing.

Dicken added: "Kyle had a few problems at the beginning of the meeting due to his set up but then Jon Armstrong got hold of it and it was great to see him then come out and win a race."

INDIVIDUAL SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

Weymouth DOONAN Wildcats

Jon Armstrong 2* 3 3 3 11+1

Brendan Johnson 3 2* 3 1 9+1

Luke Priest 2* X 3 2* 3 10+2

Karl Mason 3 3 2* 3 11+1

Jay Herne 3 2 3 2* 10+1

Tim Webster 3 1* 2* 0 6+2

Kyle Newman 0 fx fx 3 1 4

Team manager: Jem Dicken

SITTINGBOURNE CRUSADERS

Dean Felton 0 2 0 1 3

Harland Cook 1 1* 2 1 2 7+1

Alex Cunningham 0 0 0 0

Jerran Hart 1 6 2 2 fx 11

Andre Cross fx 1 1 2

Dan Berwick 2 0 0 0 0 2

Aaron Baseby 1* 2 1* 1 1* 6+3

Team manager: Chris Hunt

Referee: Christina Turnbull

Ht 1: Johnson, Armstrong, Cook, Felton 54.2, 5-1

Ht 2: Webster, Berwick, Baseby, Newman 52.2, 8-4

Ht 3: Mason, Priest, Hart, Cunningham 53.9, 13-5

Ht 4: Herne, Baseby, Cross (fx), Newman (fx) 54.9, 16-7

Ht 5: Mason, Felton, Cook, Priest (x unfair riding) awarded 19-10

Ht 6: Armstrong, Johnson, Cross, Berwick 53.4, 24-11

Ht 7: Hart, Herne, Webster, Cunningham (f,ret) 53.6, 27-17

Ht 8: Johnson, Cook, Baseby, Newman (fx) awarded 30-20

Ht 9: Priest, Mason, Cross, Berwick 55.0, 35-21

Ht 10: Armstrong, Hart, Johnson, Cunningham 53.1, 39-23

Ht 11: Herne, Webster, Cook, Felton 53.3, 44-24

Ht 12: Newman, Priest, Baseby, Berwick 54.7, 49-25

Ht 13: Armstrong, Herne, Felton, Berwick 53.6, 54-26

Ht 14: Mason, Hart, Baseby, Webster (f,ret) 54-3, 57-29

Ht 15: Priest, Cook, Newman, Hart (fx) 55.2, 61-31