Following a disappointing defeat in the Potteries on Saturday evening, where they went down 54-39 in a National Trophy fixture, Sunday saw the Fen Tigers bounce back to form in the Suffolk sunshine with victory over Kent.

It wasn’t all one way traffic though and the visitors made their intent clear in heat one when Simon Lambert romped to victory in a time just over two tenths outside the track record.

The Fen Tigers quickly imposed themselves on the meeting in heat two when reserves Connor Mountain and Jez Pestell (a replacement for the injured Jack Kingston) left the Kings reserves trailing. For Pestell it was a particularly memorable moment as it was his first ride in the third tier for ten seasons.

After a 4-2 reverse in heat three when Captain Dan Halsey was excluded for a coming together with Ben Morley after Morley got out of shape, it was back to the 5-1’s again in heat four when the two Connors (Coles and Mountain) combined for maximum points. The scores remained close until successive 5-1’s in Heat eight and nine offered the King’s the opportunity to use a Tactical Ride in Heat ten. After a tough first bend between Morley and Jacobs, Morley pulled clear for the six points and with Coles sliding off one the first bend, the King’s scored a 7-2 and were right back in the meeting. The following heat saw the visitors claim a5-1 when Brendan Johnson made a mistake on the fourth bend and suddenly the lead was cut to just one point with four to go. Whatever was said to the riders in the pits certainly had the right effect as from then on three 5-1’s and a 4-2 saw the Fen Tigers finish comfortable 54-39 winners and claim all three league points. Two fine rides from Dan Halsey and Joe Jacobs over Kent number one Lambert being the highlights as well as a third heat win for Man of the Match Connor Mountain who scored 13+1 from his six rides.

Team Manager Robert Henry was pleased if somewhat relieved by todays victory –

“I must admit to being a little worried when they pulled it back to only one point, without Josh and Jack we were a little stretched and I feared the worse, but the lads really pulled together and in the end won quite convincingly. Danny Halsey put in another Captains performance and I felt he was unlucky with the exclusion which stopped him from getting a six ride maximum. He has our track so well weighed up now and few ride it better. The two Connors were excellent too, unfortunately Connor Coles blew another engine and it proving an expensive time for him, but he rode well today and looked good around the circuit. Young Connor Mountain is really starting to progress now, he is impressive in everything he does and always is taking on board advice and looking to improve, he has a big future ahead of him. We know we are really up against it Tuesday at Cradley but we will give it everything we have and in speedway you never know!”

Club Chairman Kevin Jolly was also impressed with the performance but had a message for supporters who travelled to Stoke –

“I feel we missed a trick last night and in hindsight particularly with Jack’s injury we should have booked a guest for Dan or at least taken a Number Eight with us to Stoke. We are quick to tell the riders when they get it wrong so it is only right that we hold our hands up and say sorry to the supporters who travelled as we made an error of judgement. I’d like to thank those whose travelled for their excellent backing at always, it is really appreciated”.

Scorers –

Mildenhall 54 – 1.J Jacobs 7+3 (5), 2. C Coles 10+1 (5), 3.D Halsey 15 (6), 4.B Johnson 7+2 (5), 5. R/R 6.J Pestell 2+1 (3), 7. C Mountain 13+1 (6)

Kent 39 – 1 S Lambert 10 (5), 2 A Baseby 3+2 (4), 3. B Morley 14 (5 incl 6pt TR), 4 L Chessell 4+1 (4), 5 D Mason 4 (4), 6 L Harris 1+1 (4), 7. D Ayres 3 (4).

Mildenhall Scorers at Stoke – Joe Jacobs 18, Josh Bates 9, Brendan Johnson 7+1, Connor Mountain 4+1, Jack Kingston 1+1, Connor Coles 0, Dan Halsey (R/R).