National League

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 57 RYE HOUSE COBRAS 35

WEYMOUTH Doonan Wildcats soared to the top of the National League with a convincing win over the Rye House Cobras tonight.

And the Wildcats will be looking to maintain their stay at the summit with victory at second-placed King’s Lynn tomorrow evening in a top of the table clash.

Tonight though, the Radipole Lane outfit cruised to a 22-point triumph at the Wessex Bus Raceway with James Cockle top scoring with 14.

Team manager Jem Dicken was not surprised by his side’s dominance and is confident of further success at the Norfolk Arena.

He said: “The lads did well and they’re firing on all cylinders. We were expecting a big win but take nothing away from Rye House because they had a go.

“It’s unfortunate that it was a bit one-sided but that goes with the territory when you’re one of the top teams.

“I’ve got no worries about tomorrow night. King’s Lynn have lost to Rye House but they did beat Plymouth recently so they won’t be a pushover.

“However, I’m quite confident our boys can do it as they’ve all ridden there before.”

Today's meeting did not get off to the smoothest of starts though as Mark Burrows and Daniel Halsey collided on the very first turn of the first heat. The latter came off worse but eventually returned to his feet and showed no ill effects as he took the chequered flag ahead of Terry Day for a Rye House 4-2.

However, Tim Webster and James White-Williams, and then Cockle and Matt Wright, hit back with 5-1 maximums to hand Weymouth a six-point lead.

Heats four and five ended all-square before Burrows claimed race six with former Cobra Day finishing second.

Lee Smart then gave an overtaking masterclass as he moved from third to first to salvage a 3-3 for the Wildcats in heat seven.

Another home maximum quashed Rye House’s tactical ride in the next race before heat nine provided a fifth 5-1 for the Wildcats, opening up a commanding 18-point advantage.

Race 10 was awarded in Burrows’ favour, followed by Smart pipping Halsey to the finish in heat 11 with the latter utilising another tactical ride for the Cobras.

The 12th heat finished three apiece, Smart maintained his perfect record with victory in race 13 and then the Cobras bit back with their first maximum of the night in the penultimate ride.

Wright and Cockle were the chosen riders for the Wildcats’ final heat and they supplied a 4-2 success with Cockle taking the spoils.

* Next Friday’s Knockout Cup quarter-final with Bournemouth has been postponed so the Wildcats will travel to Newport in the league instead and hold an open practice session at the Wessex Bus Raceway the next day.

INDIVIDUAL SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS

1 Mark Burrows 0 3 3 2* 8+1

2 Terry Day 2 2* 3 1 8+1

3 James Cockle 3 2 3 3 3 14

4 Matt Wright 2* 1* 2* 1 1 7+3

5 Lee Smart 3 3 3 3 12

6 Tim Webster 3 0 1 0 4

7 James White-Williams 2* 0 2* 0 4+2

Team manager: Jem Dicken

RYE HOUSE COBRAS

1 Daniel Halsey 3 3 4^ 1 2 13

2 Michael Bovis 1 0 1^ 0 2

3 Jamie Courtney 0 1* 2 1* 4+2

4 Rob Smith 1 2 fx 3 0 6

5 Lee Strudwick 2 0 1 0 3

6 Daniel Blake 1 1 0 2 4

7 Ben Morley 0 1* 0 2* 3+2

Team manager: John Sampford

Referee: Margaret Vardy

Ht 1: (Re-run) Halsey, Day, Bovis, Burrows, 54.1 (2-4)

Ht 2: Webster, White-Williams, Blake, Morley, 52.4 (7-5)

Ht 3: Cockle, Wright, Smith, Courtney, 53.1 (12-6)

Ht 4: Smart, Strudwick, Morley, White-Williams (ret), 53.6 (15-9)

Ht 5: Halsey, Cockle, Wright, Bovis (ret), 53.3 (18-12)

Ht 6: Burrows, Day, Blake, Strudwick, 54.4 (23-13)

Ht 7: Smart, Smith, Courtney, Webster, 53.8 (26-16)

Ht 8: Day, White-Williams, Bovis (tact), Morley, 54.2 (31-17)

Ht 9: Cockle, Wright, Strudwick, Blake, 54.1 (36-18)

Ht 10: Burrows, Courtney, Day, Smith (fx), race awarded (40-20)

Ht 11: Smart, Halsey (tact), Webster, Bovis, 53.6 (44-24)

Ht 12: Cockle, Blake, Courtney, White-Williams, 54.4 (47-27)

Ht 13: Smart, Burrows, Halsey, Strudwick, 53.9 (52-28)

Ht 14: Smith, Morley, Wright, Webster, 55.1 (53-33)

Ht 15: Cockle, Halsey, Wright, Smith (ret), 53.9 (57-35)