Mildenhall Fen Tigers 47 Belle Vue Colts 43 The Mildenhall Fen Tigers staged a strong fight back in the second half of the meeting to take another important away win, strengthening their position at the top of the National League table.

With only two heats gone the Fen Tigers were six down before wins for Josh Bailey in heat three, a brilliant chase and pass, and Danny Ayres in heat four gave a foothold in the meeting.

Ayres was in fine form, winning heats six and nine, as both sides traded shared heats but as the interval approached the Fen Tigers were still six down and seemingly unable to eat into the home side’s lead.

This all changed after the interval with a pillar to post victory from new number one Drew Kemp with an under power Ryan Kinsley securing an important third place to reduce the deficit to four.

After another shared heat the Fen Tigers turned up the heat in heat 13. Although Ben Wilson gated, Kemp soon swept round him to take the lead, behind the action was thrilling as Ayres and Tom Perry traded places before Ayres asserted and set off after Wilson. Not to be denied the Fen Tigers man hunted down Wilson and went round the outside on bend one of the final lap for a meeting changing 5-1 that bought the teams level.

It was a captain’s ride in heat 14 from the returning Jordan Jenkins to hold the charging Joe Lawlor at bay and with Sam Bebee battling behind to hold off Paul Bowen the Fen Tigers finally got their noses in front with just one heat to go.

The victory was secured with a stunning double inside pass by Kemp on the first lap of heat 15 and with the always combative Ayres beating the impressive Bickley, the Fen Tigers had the win in a fine contest 47-43.

Team boss Phil Kirk said: “We were struggling out of the starts early on but Josh and Danny scored some important heat wins to prevent the Colts get away from us, and the lads needed little geeing up during the interval. They were not ready to lose their unbeaten league record and the response in the final heats was typical of their spirit and will to win, they keep finding more when called upon to step up.”

Scorers

Fen Tigers: Drew Kemp 13 (5 rides), Danny Ayres 12+1 (5), Josh Bailey 8+1 (4), Jordan Jenkins 6+1 (4), Sam Bebee 3+1 (4), Ryan Kinsley 3 (4) and Matt Marson 2+1 (4)

Colts: Ben Wilson 11 (5), Kyle Bickley 10 (5), Tom Perry 7 (4), Paul Bowen 6 (5), Joe Lawlor 5+2 (4), Ben Woodhull 2+1 (3) and Kean Dicken 2+1 (4)