LEICESTER Lion Cubs endured a night to forget as their depleted side was thrashed 65-25 by WSRA National Development League leaders Edinburgh on Friday.
With the Monarchs Academy going on to register another dominant win over Buxton in the second half of their double header, they are now on the brink of clinching the title.
The Lion Cubs had to visit Armadale without statistically their two best performers this season as both Freddy Hodder and Ryan Ingram were required by their Championship clubs for a recently arranged play-off match.
Alfie Bowtell, an established No.1 in this league, had been booked to guest, but he had to pull out for personal reasons which always left the visitors up against it.
That said, there was no doubting the massive supremacy of the home side, although a full-strength Lion Cubs side featuring Hodder and Ingram would clearly have got much closer.
Ben Whalley, Jordy Loftus, Vinnie Foord and guest Ashton Vale all scored four-ride paid maximums for Edinburgh with Whalley providing most of the entertainment.
He made it through from the back to join Loftus for a 5-1 in the opening race before passing Lion Cubs skipper Ben Morley in Heat 6, and he then overhauled both guest Jack Roberts and Max Perry in Heat 10.
Perry was the Lion Cubs’ sole winner with a good ride in Heat 7 to get the better of Dayle Wood, but a likely race advantage became a 3-3 when Tom Spencer fell.
That was the only defeat for any of the Edinburgh five plus reserve Jamie Halder prior to Heat 15, with the Lion Cubs taking their remaining points ahead of Anika Loftus.
They did share the last two races thanks to Perry and Seth Norman on both occasions as Halder retried from Heat 15.
The Lion Cubs must quickly lick their wounds for their next fixture at King’s Lynn on Wednesday, where Hodder and Ingram will return to the team.
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
EDINBURGH 65: Ben Whalley 11+4, Jordy Loftus 11+1, Ashton Vale 11+1, Dayle Wood 11, Vinnie Foord 10+2 Jamie Halder 10+2, Anika Loftus 1+1
LEICESTER 25: Max Perry 8+1, Seth Norman 5+1, Jack Roberts 4, Ben Morley 4, Tom Spencer 3+1, Eli Meadows 1+1, Ryan Ingram r/r
