Super Fen Tigers see off the Bees in front of big crowd at Mildenhall

Kevin Jolly, Mildenhall joint promoter, happy with his team (Image: Archant)

An excellent crowd were highly entertained as Mildenhall Fen Tigers recorded their 10th successive home win of the season to go top of the National League standings, with this victory over Coventry Bees.

A meeting that had been tipped to Mildenhall’s toughest so far this season saw the West Row side rise to the challenge, strike early and extend an advantage they never looked like losing.

The whole Fen Tigers team contributed, with Josh Bailey and Drew Kemp especially impressive.

On a night when rain threatened throughout, this young Fen Tigers team are really getting their fans on board and there is a good feel around the club.

Coventry, led by Connor Mountain and Jon Armstrong battled to the end and two 5-1s to the midlanders in heats 13 and 15 kept the score respectable.

The two teams were set to meet last night in the return, but that was called off because of a waterlogged track.

For Mildenhall boss Kevin Jolly, Saturday was a good night for his team.

“Everyone contributed important points tonight and it was a real team effort from the lads,” he said.

“We felt Coventry would be our sternest home test yet but we dealt with them convincingly and with a little luck would have won by a bigger margin. Seeing Ryan (Kinsley) and Danny (Ayres) beating themselves up tonight shows me just how much it matters to the boys and how much they want to win and succeed this year.

“It was fantastic to see the exuberance of Sam Bebee on his return and the effort Matt (Marson) put in after a difficult first ride, these lads will only improve with racing and can provide the support our top five need.”

The action was fast and furious from the start with Mountain, picking up Kinsley on the third and fourth bend, suffering an exclusion in the opening running of heat one.

The re-run saw Drew Kemp then clip the tapes before visitors Luke Harris took a surprise victory.

Heat two saw the return from injury of Sam Bebee, and it could not have been a more impressive return as the youngster roared from the gate leaving the opposition trailing in his wake.

A 5-1 from Bailey and Danny Halsey in heat three followed by a 4-2 from Ayres and Bebee in heat four saw the Fen Tigers into a six point lead.

Mountain halted the progress briefly in heat six with a fine pillar to post victory before Kinsley and Kemp beat Armstrong to record a second 5-1 of the evening.

The flying Kemp was at it again in heat eight with his teenage partner Bebee as they recorded another 5-1 before a classic Halsey move saw him join Bailey for a fourth 5-1 of the evening as the Fen Tigers extended their lead to 14 points and with it already had the meeting in the bag.

Heat ten saw the Bees pairing of Danny Phillips and Luke Ruddick make the start but Kemp was soon on their tail before sweeping past both.

Further wins from Ayres and Bailey saw the Fen Tigers home by heat 12 with an 18-point lead but the Bees were not going to lie down.

Heat 13 saw a brilliant battle develop between Ayres and Mountain before the Mildenhall man clipped Mountain’s front wheel and was excluded. Mildenhall bounced back in heat 14 with a fine ride from Halsey and the battling Marson before the ex-Fen Tigers Mountain and Armstrong produced a master class in heat 15 to make the score more respectable.

Fen Tigers: Josh Bailey 12 (5), Drew Kemp 11 (5), Danny Halsey 7+2 (4), Sam Bebee 7+1 (4), Danny Ayres 6 (4), Ryan Kinsley 4+2 (4) and Matt Marson 4 (4)

Coventry: Connor Mountain 11 (5), Jon Armstrong 8+2 (5), Danny Phillips 7+1 (4), Luke Harris 5 (4), Luke Ruddick 5 (4), Jamie Halder 2 (4) and Ryan MacDonald 1+1 (4)