LEICESTER Lion Cubs welcome back popular reserve Vinnie Foord for their KO Cup semi-final trip to Workington on Saturday (3pm).
Foord has missed the Lion Cubs’ last four matches after crashing out of the home win against Kent in late-May and suffering a wrist injury, and his return comes as a major boost especially with two other riders currently sidelined.
Skipper Joe Thompson remains on the injury list with a broken collarbone, whilst Tom Spencer is also out with the broken arm he sustained in the league visit to Northside last month.
That meeting saw the Cubs go down to a 50-39 defeat after a tremendous effort in a depleted state, but since then No.1 Dan Thompson has returned to action, and his partnership with Ashton Boughen has been highly successful.
The Lion Cubs bring in Belle Vue’s Sam Hagon as a guest for Joe Thompson, with rider replacement in operation for Spencer, whose outings can be shared between Boughen, Foord and fellow reserve Max James.
Both James and Max Perry were impressive performers for the Lion Cubs on that previous visit, and they will be looking for a repeat on Saturday.
Workington have been one of the sport’s success stories this year with the Northside venue in operation for the first time at league level, but on-track the Comets have been beaten in two of their last three home matches.
However, they include one of the NDL’s top riders in Connor Bailey, whilst 16-year-old Luke Harrison is now in the top five after a high-scoring start to his career at this level.
Captain Luke Crang is a doubt after a crash against Oxford last time out, and he will have a fitness test ahead of the meeting having suffered possible knee ligament damage.
Cubs boss Dave Howard said: “Whilst it will be a tough meeting, we will be looking to push Workington all the way to put ourselves in a strong position for the home second leg as we look to defend our KO Cup trophy.”
The second leg takes place at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Saturday August 5, with Mildenhall awaiting the aggregate winners in the Final.
WORKINGTON: Connor Bailey, Sam McGurk, Luke Harrison, Luke Crang, Ace Pijper, Harry McGurk, Elliot Kelly.
LEICESTER: Dan Thompson, Ashton Boughen, Max Perry, Tom Spencer r/r, Sam Hagon, Vinnie Foord, Max James.
