LEICESTER Fox Cubs’ two new signings came up trumps in a 53-37 win over Plymouth in the National Development Trophy.
Freddy Hodder and Jordy Loftus both made their debuts for the Fox Cubs and added much-needed scoring power to the team for their second win of the NDT season.
Hodder defeated Joe Thompson in both Heats 13 and 15 as he finished with a 13-point total in a meeting in which the sides’ respective heat-leaders were well matched.
Skipper Will Cairns and Ace Pijper both recorded double figures too, with Cairns taking a win over Ben Trigger in Heat 6 and keeping the Lion Cubs regular at the back of both Heats 13 and 15.
Loftus, meanwhile, was part of an excellent middle and lower order display which saw the Fox Cubs register just three last places all afternoon.
He won his debut ride in a 5-1 with Max Broadhurst after Plymouth’s Kai Ward had been disqualified from Heat 2, and he added a further win in Heat 8 as the Fox Cubs stretched ten points clear.
Despite the race wins of Thompson and Trigger, the Centurions did not record a single heat advantage with Stene Pijper and Mason Watson solid in the second-strong department, and the younger Pijper collected a deserved race win in Heat 14.
Manager Jen Crossland said: “I’m very pleased with the performance, Plymouth had a good side and we rode well.
“The moment I saw Jordy’s first score in the NDL I said to Stewart (Dickson) I wanted to bring him into the team, and it was also a superb performance by Freddy which is what we know he can do.
“It’s great for these young lads to get more laps under their belts, more races, and we had some good racing again today and a good result.”
LEICESTER 53: Freddy Hodder 13, Will Cairns 10, Ace Pijper 10, Jordy Loftus 8+1, Stene Pijper 6+2, Max Broadhurst 3+2, Mason Watson 3+1.
PLYMOUTH 37: Joe Thompson 13, Ben Trigger 8, Kai Ward 6, Ryan Ingram 5+1, Eli Meadows 4+2, Harley Driscoll-Freeman 1, Owen Booth 0.
