Kent SLYDE Kings will have to go Island hopping when their 2016 Speedway National Knock Out Cup campaign gets underway, having been drawn against National League [NL] newcomers, the Isle of Wight Warriors.

That’s a Round One tie which will be contested (as all ties in this competition are) over two legs: home at Central Park and away at the newly renamed Warriors’ track at Smallbrook in Ryde on the holiday island.

No dates are yet available for either leg.

With 12 clubs contesting the NL in 2016 that means four clubs get a ‘bye’ into Round Two and should the SLYDE-backed Kings get past the Isle of Wight in the first round, they’ll face one of these teams with a ‘bye’, the Coventry Storm in Round Two.

Kent defeated the Brandon-based West Midlanders in the competition last year on their way to the semi-final and if it’s to be a Groundhog Day moment in the coming year’s competition, victory over Coventry would pitch the Sittingbourne based side into the last four again.

For the first time a draw has been made showing the ‘route’ to the final for all clubs and so should the SLYDE Kings make it to the semi, their opponents would be one of reigning NL champs Birmingham, newcomers to the NL this term Belle Vue Colts, local rivals Rye House or bogey team, Stoke Potters.

This rather complicated matrix means one thing though: the Kings can’t meet their semi final conquerors of last term and the KOC holders, local rivals Eastbourne Eagles until the Final itself.

 

The whole draw looks like this:

 

Round One

Kent SLYDE Kings vs. v Isle of Wight Warriors

Belle Vue Colts  v Stoke Potters

Birmingham Brummies vs. Rye House Raiders

Mildenhall Fen Tigers  v Eastbourne Eagles (holders)

Round Two

Kent or I.O.W. v Coventry Storm

Belle Vue or Stoke v B’ham or Rye Hse

King’s Lynn Young Stars  v Mildenhall or Eastbourne

Buxton Hitmen v Cradley Heathens

 

Semi Finals

Buxton or Cradley v Mildenhall or Eastbourne or King’s Lynn

Kent or I.O.W or Coventry vs. Belle Vue or Stoke or B’ham or Rye House