LEICESTER secured a vital 52-38 victory over King’s Lynn to firmly establish themselves in the ROWE Motor Oil play-off places ahead of a tough run of away fixtures.
With all three points banked from the clash at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park, the Watling JCB Lions sit fourth in the league table with a healthy four-point gap over Oxford and five over the Stars with matches in hand on both.
A strong all-round display saw the Lions’ three heat-leaders all in double figures, whilst every member of the side recorded at least one paid win.
Ryan Douglas enjoyed his best performance of the season after a setback in his opening ride, and he combined with Sam Masters for a 5-1 in Heat 15 whilst skipper Max Fricke also showed his track craft on numerous occasions.
It was the visitors who struck the first major advantage when Jan Kvech and former Lions rider Richard Lawson combined for a 5-1 over Douglas and Kyle Howarth in Heat 3.
But the Lions his back superbly with three 5-1s of their own to take the match away from the visitors, who saw Niels-Kristian Iversen crash out of Heat 4 as he attempted to get the better of Masters on the third turn.
The re-run saw Joe Thompson ride an excellent race to keep Nicolai Klindt at bay for a 5-1 with Masters, and that was followed up by Howarth and Douglas combining to squeeze out Harris in the next.
Fricke rode an expert turn two in Heat 6 to cover off both Stars riders enabling Luke Becker to join him for a 5-1, and that made it 23-13 in Leicester’s favour.
The next three races were shared as Drew Kemp relegated Lawson to the back in another close finish in Heat 7, whilst a tactical substitute ride for Kvech in Heat 9 was negated by a win for Douglas.
There was a surprise in Heat 10 when the powerful Fricke/Becker pairing suffered a 5-1 reverse with Lawson and Kvech again bringing in the points for the Stars despite Fricke’s extensive efforts to pass.
But the Lions quickly restored control as Kemp popped out of the start to win Heat 11 whilst Klindt got the better of Masters on turn four for second place.
Douglas won a shared Heat 12 before the Lions made sure of the points with a well-worked 5-1 from Fricke and Masters to the frustration of Iversen in Heat 13.
The visitors took a couple of points back in Heat 14 as Lawson took the flag, but he was repassed by Masters in an excellent Heat 15 which saw Douglas take his third win of the meeting in a final maximum advantage.
Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “I said beforehand that this was a meeting we had to win, we did win it, and to win by 14 points probably exceeded my expectations.
“In Heats 13 and 15 we showed the importance of having a big boy, when you watch Max Fricke locking it on these guys, and then Sam and Dougy did it in Heat 15 as well, so that sent the majority of the fans home happy.
“I have to say Max has been the ultimate professional. It was uncharacteristic when he and Luke lost a 5-1 in Heat 10, but he went out in Heat 13 and did a blocking job to let Sam come around, and that was superb.
“He’s had a tough week both before and after the baby came, so I thought we’d give him the benefit of sitting out Heat 15 tonight, and I don’t do hugs normally but I gave him a squeeze tonight – he led from the front and did the business, and the Leicester team backed him up very well.
“I know one or two riders think they could have done a little better, which is always good to hear from a team manager’s point of view, and it was also much better from Dougy tonight as well, so that was really good to see.
“Sadly it looks like Dan (Gilkes) is going to be out for some time, we don’t know if it’s season ending yet, but it’s a difficult one.
“Joe Thompson was the obvious choice tonight and I thought he did well. Rob Lyon cruelly put him against Nicolai Klindt every time, I understand that’s what he had to do, but Joe got three paid five and deserved his fourth ride, so I’ll be speaking to him and we’ll see where we go.”
Lions now head into a run of three away matches in the space of eight days, starting at champions Belle Vue on Monday.
LEICESTER 52: Ryan Douglas 12+1, Sam Masters 10+2, Max Fricke 10, Luke Becker 6+1, Drew Kemp 6+1, Kyle Howarth 5, Joe Thompson 3+2.
KING’S LYNN 38: Jan Kvech 11+2, Richard Lawson 9+1, Nicolai Klindt 8+2, Niels-Kristian Iversen 4, Chris Harris 3, Ashton Boughen 3, Ben Cook r/r.
Leicester win the aggregate point
