The South East & East region senior side began the defence of their Battle of Britain title with a comfortable win against their main rivals the Midlands at Whitton Sports and Community Centre on Sunday.

East Anglian Daily Times: Harrison Bacon and Lewis Brinkhoff pursue the Midlands' Damian Pelaczyc. Photo: PHIL CLARKEHarrison Bacon and Lewis Brinkhoff pursue the Midlands' Damian Pelaczyc. Photo: PHIL CLARKE (Image: Archant)

After taking the lead in the fourth heat, three 7-3 heat wins put the home side 14 points up by half-time.

The visitors struggled with the dusty surface in the unseasonal heat, making it comfortable for the East to defend their lead, eventually finishing 11 points up.

East Anglian Daily Times: Lewis Brinkhoff passes Midlander Cameron Gill as the Eastern region's pits celebrate! Photo: PHIL CLARKELewis Brinkhoff passes Midlander Cameron Gill as the Eastern region's pits celebrate! Photo: PHIL CLARKE (Image: Archant)

The pick of the battles was the Midlands’ Myke Grimes and the East’s Matt Hill, the younger Hill brother met the British individual Champion twice and used his speed to best advantage, working with Josh Brooke for a 7-3 in heat six and forcing a mistake from Grimes that led to a crash and his exclusion in heat 16.

The SE&E will be buoyed by this start to their Battle of Britain season.

East Anglian Daily Times: Matt Hill and Josh Brooke of the SE & E senior team lead Myke Grimes and Lee Kemp. Photo: PHIL CLARKEMatt Hill and Josh Brooke of the SE & E senior team lead Myke Grimes and Lee Kemp. Photo: PHIL CLARKE (Image: Archant)

South East and East 102: Lewis Osborne 14+2, Ashley Hill 15+1, Richard Fellgett 7, Adam Peck 12+1, Matt Hill 18, Josh Brooke 21+1, Dan Knights 8+2, Leon Mower 7+2

Midlands 91

East Anglian Daily Times: The Midlands' Ben Wells crashes in to the East's James Porter. Photo: PHIL CLARKEThe Midlands' Ben Wells crashes in to the East's James Porter. Photo: PHIL CLARKE (Image: Archant)

The Midlands Junior squad were series champions in 2017, and they started off with a bang against the South East and East juniors, aided by a crash for Pierce Bacon in heat one and a tapes exclusion for Lewis Brinkhoff in heat two.

However, the SE&E kept their composure and when Tyler Brinkhoff and Pierce Bacon got a maximum in heat six, they took the lead. The gap had extended to eight points by heat 14 when the East’s James Porter was excluded for bringing down Ben Wells.

East Anglian Daily Times: Eastern region's Josh Brooke and Leon Mower, gates two and four, gating against the Midlands' Mike Baldock and Myke Grimes. Photo: PHIL CLARKEEastern region's Josh Brooke and Leon Mower, gates two and four, gating against the Midlands' Mike Baldock and Myke Grimes. Photo: PHIL CLARKE (Image: Archant)

Ben Clarke had been leading but moved under starters orders in the re-run as the young SE&E team suffered one of five exclusions on the day.

However, British Under 16 Champion Harrison Bacon was solid throughout and with Tyler Brinkhoff impressing, the pair restored the East’s advantage as the side rode more composed in the final heats to secure victory as the team made a good start to their campaign.

South East and East 99: Pierce Bacon 19+2, Tyler Brinkhoff 17+2, Lewis Brinkhoff 18+1, Reece Johnson 4, Harrison Bacon 20, Adam Cooper 7+1, James Porter 6, Ben Clarke 8

Midlands 94