LEICESTER consolidated second position in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership by passing a tricky test against King’s Lynn 51-39 in a hugely entertaining meeting at the Hydroscand Arena.
The Watling JCB Lions took match and aggregate points against Stars to move to within four points of leaders Belle Vue, and they also have a seven-point buffer over the sides outside the play-off places.
Lions were expected to come under severe pressure in a meeting in which they were without Nick Morris, and with former skipper Max Fricke making his first return in the colours of his new club.
But No.1 Ryan Douglas defeated Fricke 2-1 in their individual battles, as well as continuing a rich partnership with Dan Thompson, whilst Kyle Howarth made a very successful return from injury with a double figure score.
On a night of fast and frantic racing, Fricke had to come from the back to split Douglas and Thomspon in Heat 1 with the Lions having won an important coin toss to take gates one and three in the opener.
A second 4-2 followed in Heat 2 as Drew Kemp dominated whilst Joe Thompson overcame Jody Scott in a good battle for third place, whilst the next race produced the first 5-1 as Howarth forced his way to the front whilst Kemp stalked Cooper Rushen for three laps before rounding the youngster off the fourth bend.
Heat 4 was one of the races of the season with skipper Sam Masters and Chris Harris wheel to wheel for two laps, and just when Harris seemed to have gained the advantage Masters stormed back through on the last lap, whilst Scott took the battle for third place by blasting around Thompson off the final turn.
Kemp suffered the misfortune of a blow-up on the start-line in Heat 5 but Howarth prevented major damage to the score with a tremendous effort to go between Fricke and Jan Kvech off turn two and then held off the ex-Lions captain.
And the home side completed a very strong start to the meeting when Douglas turned back inside Harris off turn four in Heat 6 to team up with Dan Thompson for a 5-1 to make it 24-12.
A response from the Stars was expected and it came in Heat 7 with a very impressive ride from Rushen, who was already beating Masters before the Lions man hit trouble, and he also held Kemp at bay to partner Ben Cook to maximum points.
Leicester edged an important 4-2 in Heat 8 with two separate races as Thompson held off Kvech whilst brother Joe did likewise on Scott, and that gave the Lions breathing space especially as Fricke took a tactical substitute ride in Heat 9 and duly partnered Harris to a 5-1 to cut the gap to six points.
The Lions’ response was a 5-1 of their own in a tremendous Heat 10 which saw Douglas squeeze around Rushen off the fourth bend to lead, before Dan Thompson superbly worked his way past first Cook and then Rushen to complete the 5-1 and make it 35-25.
The Stars looked set to claw two points back in Heat 11 as Fricke stormed inside Masters to lead, but he suffered an unfortunate mechanical failure at the end of lap one to hand the Lions a 4-2, which effectively confirmed a home victory.
Howarth won a shared Heat 12 before Douglas and Masters both gated on Fricke in Heat 13 although Fricke did get around Masters heading into the second lap.
The impressive Rushen, a former Lion Cubs rider, was an excellent winner of Heat 14 with misfortune this time striking Howarth who shed a chain when second, before Fricke had the consolation of spoiling Douglas’ maximum as he charged around his rival into the third bend of Heat 15.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was convincing when you look at the scoreline, although I never actually felt we were that far away from them during the meeting.
“When they got the tactical substitute it worked for them, and fair play, but we rallied back and got a 5-1 in the very next race with Dougy and Dan, and that one-two partnership has been very strong for us.
“I also felt Kyle was riding the bike really well, and I said that to him after the meeting. He was unlucky when his chain came off in his last race, but in his first couple especially when he beat Max, he looked like the Kyle of old and I’m pleased for him.
“It was important that he did a job for us tonight, because you could say we looked a little vulnerable in the middle order without Nick. But I trust my riders, and I’m happy with performance.
“There was a real feel-good atmosphere in the stadium tonight. I know it’s hot which is challenging for everybody, but the racing was good, we got the three points and a score of 51 didn’t flatter us at all.”
The Lions’ next fixture is at home to league leaders Belle Vue next Thursday (July 23), but prior to that they stage the British Semi-Final at the Hydroscand Arena this Sunday, with tapes up at 2pm.
LEICESTER 51: Ryan Douglas 13+1, Dan Thompson 10+2, Kyle Howarth 10, Drew Kemp 9+1, Sam Masters 7, Joe Thompson 2, Nick Morris r/r.
KING’S LYNN 39: Max Fricke 12, Cooper Rushen 6+1, Ben Cook 6, Chris Harris 5+1, Jan Kvech 5+1, Jordan Jenkins 3+1, Jody Scott 2+1.
Leicester win the aggregate point
