Stoke Potters 40 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 44 - National League

Without their top three riders and injured reserve Jack Kingston, the Fen Tigers pulled off their best result of a rollercoaster season with a 44-40 victory at fellow play-off chasers Stoke on Saturday night.

With guests Tom Perry and Nathan Greaves from Cradley and unattached guest reserve Michael Neale all in the points as well as fine performances from the Mildenhall lower order of Brendan Johnson, Connor Coles and Connor Mountain, the Fen Tigers were always competitive in a meeting that had a long break due to rain.

The weather also had the final say with the meeting being abandoned before heat 15 could be completed.

Top scorer for the Fen Tigers was Johnson with 10 points, Greaves scored three heats wins on an evening when mechanical problems restricted his score while the fast-improving Coles weighed in with paid nine.

Club Chairman Kevin Jolly was proud of his charges after this important win.

“This team never fails to surprise me,” he said.

“After the home defeat against Cradley and the away loss at King’s Lynn our season seemed to have hit a brick wall.

“But to their credit the youngsters have responded brilliantly and we have claimed a very important win tonight in the race for a play-off place.

“Without our top three and Jack (Kingston) it was never going to be easy but we knuckled down in very difficult conditions and Brendan and the two Connor’s were all excellent.

“I must thank our three guests too who all gave everything to the cause and contributed important points to help us gain three away points.”

Scorers

Mildenhall: Perry 7+1, R/R (Jacobs), Coles 7+2, Johnson 10, Greaves 9, Neale 6+3 and Mountain 5

Stoke: Chessell 6, Widman 6, Hopwood 4, Payne 8, Armstrong 8, Shuttleworth 8 and Kirby 0.