NEWPORT HORNETS 42
WEYMOUTH DOONAN WILDCATS 51
WEYMOUTH’S James Cockle was delighted with his solid showing as he led Wildcats to a 51-42 victory over New-port in South Wales.
The men from Radipole Lane shot to the top of the National League table after claiming the maximum four points available for an away win in excess of seven points.
Cockle top scored for the visitors with 11 paid 12 from five outings.
But he felt it could have been more as he struggled with a track, which lacked water as the Hornets were concerned about the pros-pect of rain throughout yesterday afternoon.
He said: “I was pretty consistent – it was just a pity the track wasn’t so consistent.
“I had heard the Newport track has been very slick this year but it got better and actually made two racing lines.
“Unfortunately, they then went out there, graded all the dirt away and it went back to one-line racing again.
“But we got the points and that’s all we wanted.”
Cockle made the most of the slick conditions as his fast starting earned him second behind partner Matthew Wright in race three. He then popped out to triumph over Tony Atkin in heat seven.
However, his maximum hopes were dashed when tactical rider Lee Dicken beat him in race 10, before he was second in heats 12 and 15.
Former Newport asset Tim Webster also starred for the Wildcats and appeared to be cruising to a full house.
He triumphed in the re-run of the reserves race, after partner James White-Will-iams spun and fell on turn two while leading the initial staging.
Webster then claimed heat six in style by tearing around the boards on turn one to pass Karl Mason and Lee Dicken.
He just kept his maximum alive when he finished second to team-mate Lee Smart in heat nine.
Former Wildcat Sam Hurst put up a determined challenge but fell hard on the final corner of lap two.
With Webster up against struggling pair Grant Tregon-ing and Shelby Rutherford in race 12, he thought it was going to be his night.
But Tregoning made his only fast start of the meeting to win the race and inflict the Weymouth reserve’s only loss.
Webster, who was delighted to better his three paid four haul against King’s Lynn last Saturday, said: “I thought I was going to get a maximum but Grant just clamped me down on the first corner in heat 12. I thought I was going to have him – but I will another day.”
Despite falling in his opening race, White-Williams produced a solid display on his home-town track with six paid seven.
Meanwhile, skipper Smart battled hard for his seven paid eight after falling badly while chasing Tony Atkin in race four.
But ultimately, a solid Wey-mouth septet made Newport pay for their failure to get heat advantages in the closing stages of this contest.
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