DANYON HUME believes that Leicester did “a great job” in pushing the Belle Vue Colts all the way in Manchester.
The Roger Webster Cubs No.1 produced a solid display as the Cubs went down by just 10 points at the National Speedway Stadium.
There was no Ellis Perks and Joe Thompson but guests Joe Lawlor and Anders Rowe did a great job to keep the visitors in the hunt.
Hume said: “It was always going to be tough with a patched up side, but I thought we did a great job. It would have been hard with a full strength side to be honest.
“This is only the second time I’ve ridden here and they are fast and dialled in to this place. But we stayed in the meeting right until the very end.
“I’m really pleased with the way I went. I felt pretty good on the track and was pleased that we pushed them all the way.”
The Cubs remain at the top of the National League but Hume knows they now need to kick on for the Play-Offs.
He added: “Once we are back at full strength I think we are a very strong team. It’s just about getting into the Play-Offs and start again.
“But I genuinely feel we have a really great side and we can go all the way to see the job out.”
The Colts moved into an early six-point lead after a 5-1 in Heat 3 but the depleted Cubs were still in the meeting at just half a dozen down after eight heats.
Jordan Palin did the most damage to the Cubs with a vital win over tactical sub pairing Hume and Rowe in Heat 5 and then he was the villain again with a maximum in Heat 9 with Danny Phillips.
But the visitors hit back in Heat 13 with Hume and Rowe grabbing their own 5-1 but the Colts sealed the deal next time out.
Belle Vue 50: Connor Bailey 14, Kyle Bickley 12, Jordan Palin 12, Danny Phillips 7+3, Ben Rathbone 3+1, Ben Woodhull 2+1.
Roger Webster Cubs 40: Joe Lawlor 12+1, Anders Rowe 12, Danyon Hume 8+3, Josh Embleton 4, Ryan Terry-Daley 2+1, Dan Thompson 2.
