LEICESTER are all set for a shot at Championship glory after a 51-39 win over Somerset.
The city side produced another strong home perfomance with all seven riders picking up at least one paid heat win.
A bumper crowd were treated to an action packed night of racing in glorious conditions at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena, Beaumont Park Sports Complex.
Watling JCB Lions boss Stewart Dickson hailed his sides team spirit after completing a “perfect week of racing” which sees the Watling JCB Lions complete an unblemished 100% record in the regular season fixtures on home shale.
Dickson said: “It was a good team performance, everybody chipped in to make sure we sent Somerset home empty handed.
“We’re very pleased to have completed our 100% home record, especially with such a big crowd here tonight.
“We need to keep pushing now and try to carry this momentum into an exciting end to the season with plenty to race for.”
Guest Kyle Howarth won the opening race of the night as the Watling JCB Lions took an early heat advantage.
Joe Lawlor then produced a stunning outside pass to join Connor Mountain for a first 5-1 maximum of the night.
Ty Proctor then squeezed through the tightest of gaps on the second bend of the following heat to get the better of Somerset skipper Rory Schlein in an action packed heat four.
A first shared heat of the night followed with Rebels guest Steve Worrall getting the better of the hard charging Scott Nicholls.
Tactical Substitute Schlein then cruised to victory in a controversial heat five which saw Nick Morris harshly excluded after a tight first bend incident.
Programme cover star Ellis Perks then picked up his first race win of the night as the Watling JCB Lions extended their lead to 12 points.
Schlein then took the chequered flag for a second time in the away sides first heat advantage of the night.
An enforced change of machinery for Perks resulted in the same outcome as he romped home to victory in the first of back to back heat advantages for the home side.
Leicester then secured victory with a convincing heat 13 5-1 with Howarth working hard to get the better of both Worrall and Morris.
The away side then began to produce the form that their top-heavy side promised finishing the night with back to back heat advantages courtesy of race wins from Nico Covatti and Morris.
Leicester return to league action this Friday at Scunthorpe (7.30) before a two week break prior to the two-legged Championship Shield Final.
LEICESTER 51: Kyle Howarth 9+2, Ryan Douglas 9, Scott Nicholls 9, Ellis Perks 8+2, Connor Mountain 7+3, Ty Proctor 7+1, Joe Lawlor 2+1.
SOMERSET 39: Rory Schlein 16+1, Nick Morris 9, Steve Worrall 6, Nico Covatti 4, Anders Rowe 2, Luke Harris 1, Nathan Stoneman 1.
Report: JOE APPLETON
