LEICESTER Fox Cubs’ National Development Trophy campaign started with a 51-38 defeat at Birmingham.
Their powerful opening duo of Sonny Springer and William Cairns delivered a dream start with a 5-1 - despite Springer requiring a change of machinery with 30 seconds remaining.
But the hosts responded with a hat-trick of 5-1s to open up an eight point gap in their favour.
Ride of the night came in Heat 5 when Fox Cubs captain Cairns kept it screwed on for all four laps to round Sam McGurk on the run to the line and lead a 4-2.
Ace Pijper then led the initial staging of Heat 6 - but home No.1 Tom Spencer made the most of a re-run following a fall for Caydin Martin.
The first shared race of the contest came in Heat 7 before Springer produced another fine ride to go from third to first in another 3-3.
There was drama in the ninth when Ace Pijper was collected by Sam McGurk - but the British Under-19 Champion picked himself up to win the re-run.
Birmingham’s Arran Butcher and Leicester’s Mason Watson were both excluded from Heat 10 for both falling independently - with the latter withdrawing with a wrist injury.
Cairns was beaten for the first time by former Leicester mascot Max James in Heat 11 before Stene Pijper rode smartly to come through and take Heat 12.
A 4-2 and a 5-1 for the hosts sealed their win with a race to spare before Springer rounded his night off in style with another passing move, this time getting by McGurk at the end of lap 1.
Fox Cubs Team Manager Jen Crossland said: “Of course we’d have liked to have got off to a winning start but Birmingham have built a strong side and they’ve got a lot of riders who’ve done a fair few laps at Perry Barr over the years.
“Whilst we hope we can do well in this competition, it’s all about the development and progression of our riders and some of the younger lads will have learnt a lot from that one.
“There were some positives that the team can take from that one though, especially Sonny with his three wins and Stene who finished on a high.
“But they’re a good group of lads and we’re looking forward to watching them grow meeting by meeting.”
The Fox Cubs are next in action when they face Kent Eagles away on Sunday, April 13 (12 noon).
BIRMINGHAM 51: Max James 10+2, Tom Spencer 9, Eli Meadows 8+2, Darryl Ritchings 8, Sam McGurk 7+2, Senna Summers 5+1, Arran Butcher 4.
LEICESTER 38: Sonny Springer 11+1, Will Cairns 9+1, Stene Pijper 8, Ace Pijper 6, Max Broadhurst 2, Mason Watson 1+1, Caydin Martin 1.
Photo credit: PAUL ROSE
