The Kent SLYDE Kings went down by 8 points in the first Leg of the Knockout Cup Semi Final at Birmingham last night going down 49 points to 41. This leaves the return leg on Monday delicately poised.

The Kings were led by a top score of 12+1 from Danny Ayres, 11 from James Shanes and 10 from skipper Luke Bowen. Though this would surely have been higher but for a fall in Heat 13, which resulted in an exclusion for the Kent hero but in the context of the match resulted in a 4-2 heat advantage.

The difference between the two sides was in the second string and reserves positions, with the Brummies consistently picking up points in these departments.

Things started well for the visitors with a 5-1 in the opening heat from Luke Bowen and Jack Thomas.

The home side hit back with a heat advantage in the reserves race as Danno Verge split the home duo of Jack Smith and guest Lee Geary.

The visitors led after Heat 7 by two 22-20 and hopes were high that the Kings could come away from Perry Barr with a win and an aggregate lead. This however was turned around in the next two races with back to back 4-2 heat advantages to Birmingham.

Kent were still only 2 points adrift after heat 12 thanks to wins in Heats 10 and 12 from James Shanes.

After the previously mentioned 4-2 in Heat 13 where Danny Ayres try as he might couldn’t catch Birmingham captain Tom Perry the scores were 41-37 to the home side. The match was sealed for Birmingham in Heat 14 when Tom Bacon and Jack Smith took a 5-1 heat advantage over Jack Thomas and Luke Clifton.

The final race was shared after Luke Bowen made the start ahead of home captain Tom Perry with Tom Bacon and Danny Ayres, but these positions eventually were reversed with Perry passing Bowen and Ayres finding a way past Bacon.

All of this left the Kings down but not out, and the second leg is sure to be an event not to be missed.