LEICESTER’S National Development League side picked up a hard-earned point from a tough trip to Mildenhall on Sunday.
The Roger Webster Lion Cubs were beaten 47-41 by a strengthened Fen Tigers side but battled away throughout and received some reward when Dan Thompson won Heat 15 with brother Joe supplying the important third place.
An eventful afternoon at West Row saw the visitors race into an early five-point lead after former Lion Cubs rider Luke Ruddick crashed out of the meeting in Heat 3.
Youngster Ben Trigger combined with Dan Thompson for a brilliant 5-1 in Heat 5, and Trigger took his second win of the day when he headed Sam Bebee and Elliot Kelly in Heat 8.
The home side moved clear for the first time with a 5-1 from Jordan Jenkins and Bebee in Heat 10, with Sam Hagon and Kelly backing that up in Heat 12 to leave the Lion Cubs essentially chasing a league point.
Heat 13 was shared with the Thompson twins getting the better of Jason Edwards, whilst Heat 14 saw an horrific crash for home rider Hagon, who was taken to hospital although thankfully conscious after a heavy impact.
The Cubs took a 3-2 in the re-run as Tom Spencer won the race, but they still required an advantage from the finale – which they secured as Dan Thompson beat Edwards with Joe third ahead of Jenkins.
Manager Dave Howard said: “It was a good point which the guys worked really hard for, and it was a great effort from everyone.
“We kept in touch and pulled it back at the end to get the point, and it was a fighting display on what was a tricky track, with various delays because of crashes and damage to the fence.
“Obviously Dan and Joe led the way again, and it was Ben’s highest ever league score with a couple of race wins and a superb 5-1 with Dan where they’d spoken before about Ben getting out in front and Dan said, ‘you gate and I’ll sit behind you,’ and it worked perfectly.
“Mickie (Simpson) was doing well but unfortunately had quite a big fall, he’s okay but it affected him later on, and Tom had a very eventful day with a couple of falls, one quite heavy, but he ended the day on a positive note with a win in Heat 14.
“Whilst Kai (Ward) didn’t score any points, he really tried hard and was unlucky with an exclusion when he’d remounted and was under power, and the referee still excluded him – but his effort, considering he didn’t score, was really good.
“Overall if you can come away from an away match with something, then everyone has done a good job, so we’re happy with the performance and we all hope Sam Hagon is okay because that was a really heavy fall.”
The Lion Cubs are back in action with their re-arranged trip to Armadale on September 24, before a home clash with Kent Royals the following evening immediately after the sides meet in the Championship.
MILDENHALL 47: Jordan Jenkins 10+1, Jason Edwards 10, Elliot Kelly 8+2, Sam Bebee 7+1, Sam Hagon 7+1, Nathan Ablitt 5+1, Luke Ruddick 0.
LEICESTER 41: Joe Thompson 14, Dan Thompson 11+2, Ben Trigger 8+1, Tom Spencer 4, Mickie Simpson 4, Kai Ward 0, Joe Lawlor r/r.
