LEICESTER completed their regular SGB Premiership campaign with a 55-38 defeat at Rye House on Monday.
Although rivals King’s Lynn crashed to a 14th defeat in 15 at Wolverhampton, the result leaves the Watling JCB Lions at the foot of the table, two points adrift of the Stars – and it means they will face a promotion/relegation play-off against the SGB Championship winners next month.
Lions were always likely to be up against it at Hoddesdon as they travelled without injured trio Pawel Przedpelski, Erik Riss and Lasse Bjerre, although they did fare better than recent visitors to Hertfordshire such as Poole and King’s Lynn.
Reserve Kyle Newman continued his fine form at the end of the season with a 12-point haul from six rides which included a six-point effort in Heat 8 as he went for double.
And the Lions gained the maximum 8-1 return from that race as guest Jye Etheridge made a good start to lead whilst Newman worked his way past Ben Barker and then took over from his team-mate at the front.
That enabled the visitors to slash an early ten-point deficit after a series of fast starts from the home side, with Danny King the only Leicester winner in the first seven races as he got the better of Scott Nicholls in Heat 6.
Unfortunately, following the tactical ride success, the Rockets put the match to bed with a run of three 5-1s in the next three races, Kim Nilsson finding himself swamped either side by Chris Harris and Stuart Robson in Heat 11 as the lead was extended to 15 points.
Nilsson saved his best ride for Heat 13 when he and King collected a 4-2, inflicting a first defeat of the night on Harris, although Krzysztof Kasprzak completed a paid maximum in the penultimate race.
King again got the better of Harris in the finale with Newman missing out in the last two races, as the Lions skipper grabbed his second win of the night.
Jim Lynch’s side must now wait several weeks before discovering their play-off opponents, but they will be back at Beaumont Park on Sunday September 17 (2pm) to face homeless neighbours Coventry in the East Midlands Bowl.
RYE HOUSE 55: Chris Harris 13, Krzysztof Kasprzak 10+2, Ricky Wells 10+1, Ben Barker 7+2, Scott Nicholls 7+1, Stuart Robson 5+2, Ben Morley 3.
LEICESTER 38: Kyle Newman 12, Danny King 9+1, Kim Nilsson 6+1, Jye Etheridge 6+1, Ellis Perks 3, Josh Bates 2+2, Pawel Przedpelski r/r.
Picture: IAN BUSH
