MILDENHALL Fen Tigers are beginning the search for another new reserve after the injury jinx that has haunted their lower order this season returned again, on Saturday night as Aaron Baseby broke his ankle in the 45-45 NL draw at Stoke.

MILDENHALL Fen Tigers are beginning the search for another new reserve after the injury jinx that has haunted their lower order this season returned again, on Saturday night as Aaron Baseby broke his ankle in the 45-45 NL draw at Stoke.

It was Baseby’s first match back in Fen Tigers colours after returning to the club to replace Josh Bates currently out with a broken arm. “I can’t really believe it,” said Mildenhall co-promoter, Michael Lee. “First we lost Nathan (Stoneman) with a broken leg when he was flying, then Josh was in his most consistent spell of the season and doing brilliantly and now Aaron. I am gutted for him as much as us as he was thrilled to be back with us full time. Bearing in mind Lewis (Blackbird), Joe (Jacobs) and Cam (Heeps) have all been injured as well we have done superbly to have won two trophies and still be in with a shout of three more.

“But that’s the way it is so we just have to dust ourselves down and get on with it. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves with so many crucial meetings coming up over the next few weeks.”

Lee also declared himself delighted with the league draw at Stoke and the Trophy win at Buxton. At Loomer Road, Mildenhall held a slender lead from the early stages all the way up until Heat 13 when a 5-1 from Ashley Birks and James Cockle pulled the home side level. The final two heats saw an exchange of 4-2s with Stefan Nielsen managing to split the Birks-Cockle pairing to clinch the two points. “Maybe with a bit of luck and not losing Aaron we would have won. But the rest of the boys did well with Lewis and Dan excellent.”

More remarkable was the Trophy win at Buxton where a five man Mildenhall team picked up a superb 52-36 win. With both sides missing key riders the match remained tight and could have gone either way until the latter stages where as they so often do, the Fen Tigers roared away to claim victory

“We tried everything to get a number seven, but everyone was already committed to racing elsewhere, including at a big grass track meeting near Buxton, which ruled any local lads turning out for us. So even though they were depleted as well, I still thought they would have too much for us. But once again the boys showed their amazing team spirit. Lewis turned in another brilliant captain’s display and was well backed up by Joe (Jacobs). If Stefan hadn’t been feeling rough we might even have won by more.”

Lee continued, “Now though it’s back to the drawing board to find a replacement for Aaron. We’ll have a look at things over the next day or two, so that all being well if we get Cam back, we can go to Stoke for the cup semi-final on Saturday, with a strong 1-7 again.”

Mildenhall Fen Tigers 45 @STOKE 45 (8th September)

1. R/R

2. Joe Jacobs: Fr, 2, 3, 3, 0 = 8

3. Stefan Nielsen: 0, 1’, 1, 1’, 3, 2 = 8+2

4. Daniel Halsey: 3, 3, 2, fr, 3, 0 = 11

5. Lewis Blackbird: 3, 3, 3, 3, 1 = 13

6. Ryan Terry Daley: 0, 0, 0, 0, 1 = 1

7. Aaron Baseby: 3, 1, f = 4 WITHDRAWN

Mildenhall Fen Tigers 52 @BUXTON 36 (9th September)

1. R/R

2. Joe Jacobs: 3,2,3,3,1,2’ = 14+1

3. Stefan Nielsen: 0,0 3,1’,3 = 7+1

4. Daniel Halsey: 2,1,2,2’,3 = 10+1

5. Lewis Blackbird: 2’,2,3,3,3,3 = 16+1

6. Ryan Terry Daley: 2,1’,0,0,2’ = 5+2

7. DNR