LEICESTER Lion Cubs slammed Buxton 60-30 at the Hydroscand Arena on Sunday to send out another clear signal of their NDL title potential this season.
The Lion Cubs enjoyed a points bonanza against the Bulls despite the absence of the injured Tom Spencer, with the team scoring heavily across the board.
Ryan Ingram, in the form of his career, racked up paid-17 from six rides, and Max Perry also completed a fine weekend’s work after impressing for Workington on Saturday as he notched 13+1 from five – and 15-year-old reserve Seth Norman again showed his talent with paid-12.
The visitors arrived without skipper Jack Smith, and Laurence Rogers’ side were grateful for the efforts of No.1 Alfie Bowtell who scored half of their points on his own, despite a disqualification from Heat 1 when he broke the tapes.
Bowtell fought an almost one-man battle against the Lion Cubs as Ingram, Perry, captain Ben Morley and Freddy Hodder all saw their hopes of a maximum ended by Buxton’s top rider.
With four wins in succession, Bowtell was unbeaten in his rides from the gate, but Ingram finished on a high with a brilliant ride to defeat him in Heat 15.
The Lion Cubs were already eight points up from the first leg at Hi-Edge last month, and they put the aggregate position to bed in double-quick time with a triple salvo of three 5-1s in the opening three races.
Bowtell won Heats 4 and 5 to stem the tide but Morley and Norman carded the fourth 5-1 of the day in Heat 6 with Norman making it inside Luke Harris for the second place.
Perry was then involved in back-to-back 5-1s in Heats 8 and 9, teaming up with Norman and Ingram respectively, before Morley and Eli Meadows were split by Bulls guest Ben Whalley in Heat 10.
The visitors recorded their sole race advantage in Heat 11 as Bowtell’s win over a hard-charging Hodder was backed up by third place for Arran Butcher.
But the Lion Cubs were pushing on with Perry passing Jack Shimelt to take Heat 12, and a 5-1 from Ingram and Meadows in an awarded Heat 14 when Ryan Ashcroft fell moved them closer to the 60-point mark.
With a 4-2 required to hit that total, Ingram got the better of Bowtell on the opening lap with Norman third to complete a hugely impressive Lion Cubs performance.
Ingram said: “I’m really happy with my performance today. We worked well as a team and that showed on track.
“I enjoyed the meeting, and Heat 15 was pretty good! I’m feeling good at Leicester now, and I’m looking forward to carrying this form forward.”
CHALLENGE
LEICESTER 60: Ryan Ingram 15+2, Max Perry 13+1, Seth Norman 9+3, Ben Morley 9+2, Freddy Hodder 9, Eli Meadows 5+2, Tom Spencer r/r.
BUXTON 30: Alfie Bowtell 15, Ben Whalley 6+1, Luke Harris 4+1, Jack Shimelt 3, Arran Butcher 1, Ryan Ashcroft 1, Jack Smith r/r.
Leicester win 109-71 on aggregate.
