LEICESTER Lion Cubs suffered a fruitless and bruising trip to Teesside as a 53-37 defeat at Middlesbrough spelt the end of their WSRA National Development League title hopes.
The Lion Cubs needed to win the match to further delay the somewhat inevitable outcome of Edinburgh being crowned champions, but that is now off the table and all at the Hydroscand Arena congratulate the Monarchs Academy on their achievement.
For Leicester, already operating rider replacement for the absent Max Perry, they were reduced to five riders as early as Heat 3 when Tom Spencer crashed out as he suffered a wrist injury.
There was a significant delay to proceedings whilst track matters were attended to, and the remaining five Lion Cubs riders then did their best to keep in touch.
Freddy Hodder won his first three rides, and Ryan Ingram and Ben Morley both reached double figures whilst Seth Norman battled away despite a big crash at Northampton on Thursday.
A 5-1 from Ingram and Norman in Heat 12 made the score 40-32, but the Tigers hit back in the next with maximum points from Ace Pijper and Nathan Ablitt with Hodder retiring, and that secured the match points for the hosts.
There was still the aggregate to go for and Ingram kept the Lion Cubs in that particular battle with a win in Heat 14 – but Ablitt and Pijper combined over Morley and Ingram in Heat 15 in a very competitive race to match the Lion Cubs’ 16-point margin of victory from earlier in the season.
That led to a Super Heat featuring the same four riders as in Heat 15, and it was the same outcome with the home pairing on top as they climbed from sixth to second in the league table.
The Lion Cubs have three matches remaining to complete the season – away at Buxton and home to King’s Lynn and Edinburgh, and dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Meanwhile Ingram and Norman now make the long trek to Plymouth to compete in Saturday’s British Under-19 Final. This can be viewed live at https://www.gladiatorslive.com/ .
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
MIDDLESBROUGH 53: Nathan Ablitt 13+1, Ace Pijper 10+1, Charlie Southwick 10+1, Stene Pijper 10+1, Alex Spooner 9+3, Liam Greens 1, Harry Sadler R/R.
LEICESTER 37: Ryan Ingram 10, Ben Morley 10, Freddy Hodder 9, Seth Norman 6+2, Eli Meadows 1, Tom Spencer 1, Max Perry R/R.
Aggregate scores tied: Middlesbrough win the aggregate point after winning a Super Heat 7-2.
