LEICESTER blasted back to form in a big way with a superb 58-32 win over Sheffield which saw them also take a somewhat unexpected aggregate point.
The Watling JCB Lions were always favourites to win on the night given the depleted nature of their opponents, but few were anticipating them to turn around a 24-point deficit from last week’s reverse fixture.
That still looked unlikely after Heat 5 as some misfortune saw the Lions only holding a two-point lead on the night, but the performance after that was excellent with flying Ryan Douglas leading the way with a paid maximum from five rides.
The Lions collected 13 of the 15 race wins and suffered only four last places – a perfect recipe for a convincing victory, as they exploited several gaps in the visitors’ ranks, and not just because the Tigers were missing their regular heat leaders.
Douglas got things underway with a win in Heat 1 with Drew Kemp initially making the start alongside him only to be barged aside on the exit of bend two by Sheffield guest Richard Lawson, although Kemp fought hard in a bid to repass him.
The reserves’ race was shared with Tigers youngster Luke Killeen holding off the challenge of Joe Thompson, and the visitors levelled in a frantic Heat 3 with Tom Brennan getting the better of Dan Thompson in the early stages whilst Leon Flint and Sam Masters battled for third, the Lions captain just failing to make it back through on the run to the line before coming down after the race.
Killeen came to grief on the first bend of Heat 4 and was correctly disqualified by SCB referee Christina Turnbull, before the re-run looked all set for a 5-1 from Nick Morris and Joe Thompson only for Morris to hit mechanical trouble at the end of lap three, forcing him to push home for a point in sweltering conditions.
The Lions would suffer further frustration in Heat 5 when early trouble for Masters saw him retire from third place, although Dan Thompson took the win to keep the home side two points ahead.
But the gremlins then disappeared and the Lions took charge, first with a super first bend by Kemp to join Douglas for a 5-1 over Flint in Heat 6, and Morris produced a determined opening lap to Heat 7 to take Flint wide – which created space for guest Kevin Juhl Pedersen to come through for third place – whilst also getting the better of Brennan into turn three.
That made it 25-17, and there was another Leicester 4-2 in Heat 8 as Kemp surged past Killeen on the opening lap with Joe Thompson holding off Anders Rowe for third, whilst Heat 9 was shared as Masters got on the board with a determined effort to pass Lawson on the second bend and then before chasing and catching tactical substitute Brennan, passing him around the outside on the last bend.
Douglas produced a party piece in Heat 10, surging inside both Brennan and Flint in one spectacular first lap move to link up with fast-gating Kemp, and that 5-1 made it 37-23 as the aggregate point began to come into view.
Heat 11 started with an awkward tangle between Morris and Lawson, but the riders emerged unscathed and the re-run saw the Leicester rider fend off a strong challenge from his opponent whilst Juhl Pedersen supplied another most useful third place.
With the aggregate gap at eight points the next two races were crucial and Joe Thompson came up with a terrific move in Heat 12 to go between Brennan and Jye Etheridge on turn four, barging Brennan aside on the exit of the bend to come through, with Masters clear at the front.
The Lions by now had all momentum with them, and Douglas and Morris quickly took control of Heat 13 from gates 2 and 4 for another 5-1 to make it all square for the aggregate point.
Killeen threatened to delay things as he led Heat 14 for two and a half laps before Dan Thompson pulled off a sweet cutback to come through into turn three, whilst Juhl Pedersen again held on for third place despite Flint’s close attentions.
That meant only a 3-3 was required from Heat 15 and Douglas was the man for that job, making a textbook start from the inside meaning the Tigers’ defence of the minor places ahead of Kemp was irrelevant in the main context.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “The plan was to get two points as quickly as possible and then I did say if there was a chance to dream, we would dream.
“That became almost a reality around Heat 10 or 11 and I think we sensed that there was a chance. We were riding well under very slick conditions due to the weather, and fair play to all seven of my riders who stood up and delivered the goods.
“To get the aggregate point was an added bonus, and very unexpected. I never thought that would happen, and maybe I should give my riders a little bit more credit!
“We are well dialled in here, and I did say we needed a home meeting. The two heavy away defeats had knocked the confidence in the side so I wasn’t quite sure what we were going to get tonight.
“But the riders are comfortable here, we got the win and it puts in a confident mood ahead of two tough trips next week.”
The Lions are back on the road next week, starting with an important trip to Northampton on Monday where they will look to right the wrongs of their previous visit to the Shaleway where they were beaten back in May.
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2
LEICESTER 58: Ryan Douglas 13+2, Drew Kemp 10, Nick Morris 9+1, Dan Thompson 8, Joe Thompson 7+2, Sam Masters 6, Kevin Juhl Pedersen 5.
SHEFFIELD 32: Tom Brennan 10, Richard Lawson 8+3, Luke Killeen 7, Anders Rowe 4, Leon Flint 2, Jye Etheridge 1, Josh Pickering r/r.
Leicester win the aggregate point
