THE Roger Webster Lion Cubs completed a perfect day for the club with an emphatic 54-32 win in their NDL clash with the Eastbourne Seagulls.
The result moves Dave Howard’s side level on points with league leaders Berwick, after they emulated the senior team by collecting the maximum available haul.
It was also their biggest-ever away victory at this level, eclipsing a 54-36 win at Stoke in August 2019.
In an incident-strewn encounter, the Cubs recorded two 5-0s in the opening five races as home side suffered a series of falls, and they also provided 12 of the 15 race wins.
Joe Thompson piled up 17 points from six rides, beaten only by Jake Knight in Heat 6, whilst brother Dan dropped his only point to the Seagulls’ No.1 in Heat 1.
Tom Spencer once again showed his middle-order strength with a brilliant 13+1 as the Cubs amply covered for the absence of skipper Joe Lawlor who is still in Covid isolation.
There was also a race win apiece for youngster Ben Trigger on his way to paid-nine, and for Mickie Simpson in Heat 2, and although Kai Ward fell in that race he did pick up a point in Heat 6.
Howard said: “It’s very pleasing to get the win and pick up the four points, which makes up for the four we’ve dropped at home with the two draws.
“It was a tricky track with there being so many races on the day, with it being dry, then wet, then dry again, but our guys handled it a lot better than the home team, and they got their rewards.
“Joe was outstanding with his 17, Dan carried on from the fantastic performance he put in for the Lions earlier, and Tom Spencer was brilliant as well.
“Mickie got his first win for the Lion Cubs and Ben got another win too, so it was a great overall team performance.
“It puts us in a good position, it puts us back in the hunt in the league and we can look forward to going to Belle Vue a week on Thursday (July 29).
“Also a big thank-you to all the fans who stayed on after the Lions match to cheer us on. They were immense, and we all really appreciate it.”
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
EASTBOURNE 32: Jake Knight 9, Danno Verge 8, Eli Meadows 6+2, Connor King 3+1, Nick Laurence 3+1, Joe Alcock 2, Vinnie Ford 1.
LEICESTER 54: Joe Thompson 17, Tom Spencer 13+1, Dan Thompson 12+2, Ben Trigger 7+2, Mickie Simpson 4, Kai Ward 1+1, Joe Lawlor r/r.
Picture: MIKE HINVES
