National LeagueIsle of Wight 54 Rye House Cobras 39THE COBRAS suffered another defeat on their travels but restored some pride following their Buxton beating.

National League

Isle of Wight 54 Rye House Cobras 39

THE COBRAS suffered another defeat on their travels but restored some pride following their Buxton beating.

After their heaviest loss of the season, the Cobras matched their best away performance to date with a 15-point defeat - tying a 53-38 result at King's Lynn.

What's more, the two riders who suffered most up in Derbyshire were the biggest heroes in Ryde.

Lee Strudwick and Rob Smith managed just one point between them on Sunday, yet combined for 28 points on Tuesday.

Their efforts compensated for a quiet night points-wise from Danny Halsey, who was restricted by two falls, and the enforced absence of Jamie Courtney with gastroenteritis.

The Cobras' main undoing came in the first six heats, by which point they were left trailing 25-11.

The only bright spots in those early stages came via a 5-1 from Strudwick and Ben Morley in the second heat and an early battle for the lead between Smith and Nick Simmons two races later which finished with the home rider setting a new National League track record at Smallbrook of 69.0 seconds.

Rye actually matched their opponents 29-28 over the remaining heats, with Strudwick adding another two race victories and Smith collecting a couple more.

They might even have made a late challenge for a match point but for conceding 5-1s in both heats 13 and 15.

However, the Cobras had to settle for a chance for revenge when the Islanders visit Hoddesdon for the return on Saturday, July 25.

Rye House: Daniel Halsey 4+1, Daniel Blake 1+1, Jamie Courtney R/R, Trevor Heath 2, Rob Smith 10, Lee Strudwick 18, Ben Morley 4+1, Niall Strudwick dnr.

Isle of Wight: Tom Brown 11+3, Ben Hopwood 9, Chris Johnson 8+2, Brendan Johnson 7+1, Nick Simmons 14+1, Scott Meakins 3, Dan Berwick 2.