LEICESTER will have to wait to confirm second place in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table after going down 52-38 at King’s Lynn on Thursday.
A weakened Watling JCB Lions side always expected a tough contest at the Adrian Flux Arena and rallied after going 14 points down inside six races, taking the clash to a Super Heat for the aggregate point after the overall scores were level.
But King’s Lynn, who had their own agenda with points essential to their play-off chase, took the honours in that race – and with the news coming through that Belle Vue had won at Ipswich, it means the battle for the remaining top four places continues into next week.
Already with their regular gap to fill due to the retirement of Kyle Howarth, Lions were also without Nick Morris in Norfolk for personal reasons, and rider replacement was not exactly ideally placed with Morris in the No.5 position.
Added to that was the fact that No.1 Ryan Douglas was very much under the weather, especially during mid-meeting when he would ordinarily have taken a tactical substitute ride.
Despite that, Douglas was outstanding, and the rest of the Lions chipped away to remain in touch for the aggregate point after conceding 5-1s in Heats 3, 4 and 6 to lose ground on the night.
Joe Thompson was their only winner in the first four races, fending off a strong challenge from Jody Scott to do so, whilst Sam Masters led until the final bend of Heat 3 only to be overtaken by a flying Cooper Rushen.
Douglas won Heat 5 to break up the run of Lynn 5-1s, and the home side were 25-11 up after Max Fricke and Ben Cook stormed home in Heat 6.
The next four races were shared with the Lions packing in for minor places in the first three of those, including a tactical substitute second place for Masters in Heat 9 when he and Jake Allen managed to keep Rushen at the back.
Masters took a good win over Fricke and Cook in Heat 10 and the Lions collected an advantage from Heat 11 with Douglas taking the win whilst Drew Kemp was third, holding off Jordan Jenkins who crashed heading into the last bend.
But a 5-1 from Jan Kvech and Scott in Heat 12 put the home side ahead on aggregate, and Douglas had to show great determination in Heat 13 to keep the thrusting Chris Harris at bay.
Dan Thompson rode his best race of the night to lead Heat 14 and the Lions picked up a bonus when Rushen overdid it on the last bend and came down, allowing Joe Thompson to come through for third place to level the aggregate scores once more.
Lions gated on a 5-1 in Heat 15 but Kvech and Harris went either side of Masters on the opening two bends to protect a 3-3 behind Douglas, meaning a Super Heat would decide the aggregate point.
The home side were clearly favourites with choice of gates and although Douglas hit the front again, he was passed on the outside by Harris, and then before he could think about a tactical move to bring Masters into play, Kvech came through on the inside to secure maximum points for Lynn.
It means the Lions need a win and the aggregate point against Ipswich at the Hydroscand Arena on Monday to be sure of second place – although if Sheffield lose at Belle Vue on the same night, the Lions would only require a point at most.
And it will also be a huge meeting for Ipswich who are now under considerable threat for their play-off place and will be desperate for points of their own.
KING’S LYNN 52: Jan Kvech 13, Chris Harris 11+1, Max Fricke 8+2, Jody Scott 8+2, Ben Cook 8+1, Jordan Jenkins 2+2, Cooper Rushen 2+1.
LEICESTER 38: Ryan Douglas 14, Sam Masters 8+1, Joe Thompson 5+1, Dan Thompson 5, Jake Allen 3+1, Drew Kemp 3, Nick Morris R/R.
Aggregate scores tied. King’s Lynn win the aggregate point after winning a Super Heat 7-2.
Photto credit: DEREK LEADER
