To the extent that such a narrow win (just three points separated the teams at the end) can avoid too much stress, this was a relatively comfortable evening for the Kent SLYDE Kings

Though that margin was just three points at the end, the home side led throughout and managed to avoid too much in the way of  late meeting jitters with again the victory being clinched by the reliable reserve pairing of Danno Verge & Jack Thomas in heat 14.  For Verge that crucial second place was the culmination of an especially gratifying evening’s work – opening up with back to back heat wins in his first two rides. 

His partner in the reserve berths, Thomas celebrated another pick as ‘Rider of the Meeting’  – a fitting reward for the teenager’s efforts which had to be supplemented throughout by pain relief following the injury to his leg in last week’s match.

Also fighting the pain barrier was  Luke Clifton, drafted back in despite his broken fingers at the last minute when the ‘curse of the home guests’ struck again with the late withdrawal of Mark Baseby.  The narrow margin of victory was testament to a spirited showing by a fine Belle Vue Colts combo who actually provided the lion’s share of heat winners (eight contributed between an outstanding heat leader trio of Dan Bewley, Matt Williamson and Lee Payne).  The lack of too many points to back up that strong top end was though to be the undoing of the Mancunian side visiting Central Park for a first time.

Conversely paid 21 from Verge & Thomas in the reserve berths and with the hugely plucky Clifton scoring in all his outings, the hosts took the vital victory – with the Guest who can always be relied on to deliver, Ben Morley dropping just a solitary point, to rising star Bewley in heat 13.

It was a last day in his twenties for stand-in skipper Danny Ayres to well and truly forget – his two point return being his most meagre in three home seasons.  That the Sittingbourne-based side could still win with so many walking wounded and such a normally prolific scorer as Ayres out of the points was the most positive lesson learnt from this match.

It’s a break away from the white heat of the race for the play offs next week (Monday 22/8) when the annual individual Laurels championship is held at Central Park (6.30pm start time for this 12 rider, 15 heat  ’open’ event)