The Magnificent Seven are back together again! Yes, that’s the news from the home camp as the Kent SLYDE Kings prepare for their biggest Travel Plus National League of the season so far: the visit of reigning champions and current table-toppers, Birmingham Brummies. 
The fixture at Central Park on Monday (18/7) comes just three weeks after the West Midlanders visited in the National Trophy [NT} Final when a weakened SLYDE Kings side dipped to their only home defeat of the season by 43 to 47 and in doing so, lost on aggregate to the Brummies.
The fixture at Central Park on Monday (18/7) comes just three weeks after the West Midlanders visited in the National Trophy [NT} Final when a weakened SLYDE Kings side dipped to their only home defeat of the season by 43 to 47 and in doing so, lost on aggregate to the Brummies.
The key absentee that day was skipper and number one Luke Bowen, who crashed out and suffered a broken ankle in the final heat of first leg of that NT Final. Bowen has gone on to sit out the next three TPNL matches, during which time in the influential skipper’s absence the unbeaten League record was surrendered in a last heat reverse at King’s Lynn last week and the side struggled to get past Rye House at home on Monday (11/7).
The experienced David Mason missed that trip to Norfolk as did Luke Clifton, injured in the home match against Buxton after himself being very much in the wars against the Brummies. The big relief for all involved with the Kent Speedway club is that with Mason already now returned after his broken ribs injury, both Lukes are back for the crunch clash with Birmingham.
The position at the top of the TPNL sees Birmingham in first place on 26 points from 9 matches ridden. Their West Midlands neighbours, the Wolverhampton-based Cradley Heathens are second just a point behind but having ridden 12 matches and the always dangerous Eastbourne Eagles are very much in the mix in third with 24 points from 10 matches. Kent SLYDE Kings are currently in fourth place one point further behind on 23 but crucially at this stage that’s on one match fewer than the Brummies and with matches in hand to move ahead of Cradley & Eastbourne.
A win on Monday by 7 or more points would deprive the Brummies of the bonus points possibly on offer and take the Sittingbourne-based side level on points with their rivals – with still that match in hand.
There’s no question that the visiting septet is a fearsome looking outfit – assembled for success by experienced Birmingham team boss Graham Drury whilst actually having the youngest averaged age side in the TPNL: a notable achievement. They may be from the ‘Second City’ but they certainly aren’t looking like they’re content to settle for Second Best – not just leading the race currently towards the play offs (thus in poll position currently to defend their championship title), looking set for the Knock-out Cup [KOC] semis (20 points up from their first leg win over Manchester’s Belle Vue Colts with the SLYDE Kings awaiting in a potential Semi-Final clash) and of course with that silver pot, the NT already tucked away in their Perry Barr trophy room.
Skippering the side after returning from injury in that NT Final is Tom Perry – a three times U-21 British Champion at Speedway’s ‘sister’ sport of Grasstrack. Also an expert on the Grass is the West Midlanders’ number one, Zack Wajtknecht – twice an FIM Gold Cup winner when at youth level. The sparks are sure to fly when Perry & Wajtknecht come up against the top Grasstrack man in the UK, the SLYDE Kings’ own British Masters champion, James Shanes.
An undoubted strength of Drury’s side has been in the vital second string and reserve department. The rise to prominence of 2016 TPNL newcomers the pair of Jacks, Smith and, fourth in the GB U21 championship this term, Parkinson-Blackburn might have meant these two high scorers moving up out of the 6 & 7 berths. But not so, because the Brummies have struck gold with their two close-season recruits, Tom Bacon & Danyon Hume (snapped up respectively from Mildenhall & Rye House) who have improved their own averages and become match winners also. This was amply demonstrated on NT Final day with Smith (son of ex-World Finalist Andy) scoring paid 10 and both Hume and the very popular Bacon scoring paid 8.
Lastly completing the most impressive of septets is Darryl Ritchings whose heat 10 & heat 14 paid wins helped clinch the NT for his side.
The two sides having drawn when they met up at Perry Barr in the TPNL earlier this season (a result which may well prove absolutely vital for Kent in the final mix), this one with both sides at full strength is surely too close to call. It is poised to be a Speedway classic!
The action gets underway at Central Park at 6.30pm on Monday 18th. July (gates open at 5pm).
The position at the top of the TPNL sees Birmingham in first place on 26 points from 9 matches ridden. Their West Midlands neighbours, the Wolverhampton-based Cradley Heathens are second just a point behind but having ridden 12 matches and the always dangerous Eastbourne Eagles are very much in the mix in third with 24 points from 10 matches. Kent SLYDE Kings are currently in fourth place one point further behind on 23 but crucially at this stage that’s on one match fewer than the Brummies and with matches in hand to move ahead of Cradley & Eastbourne.
A win on Monday by 7 or more points would deprive the Brummies of the bonus points possibly on offer and take the Sittingbourne-based side level on points with their rivals – with still that match in hand.
There’s no question that the visiting septet is a fearsome looking outfit – assembled for success by experienced Birmingham team boss Graham Drury whilst actually having the youngest averaged age side in the TPNL: a notable achievement. They may be from the ‘Second City’ but they certainly aren’t looking like they’re content to settle for Second Best – not just leading the race currently towards the play offs (thus in poll position currently to defend their championship title), looking set for the Knock-out Cup [KOC] semis (20 points up from their first leg win over Manchester’s Belle Vue Colts with the SLYDE Kings awaiting in a potential Semi-Final clash) and of course with that silver pot, the NT already tucked away in their Perry Barr trophy room.
Skippering the side after returning from injury in that NT Final is Tom Perry – a three times U-21 British Champion at Speedway’s ‘sister’ sport of Grasstrack. Also an expert on the Grass is the West Midlanders’ number one, Zack Wajtknecht – twice an FIM Gold Cup winner when at youth level. The sparks are sure to fly when Perry & Wajtknecht come up against the top Grasstrack man in the UK, the SLYDE Kings’ own British Masters champion, James Shanes.
An undoubted strength of Drury’s side has been in the vital second string and reserve department. The rise to prominence of 2016 TPNL newcomers the pair of Jacks, Smith and, fourth in the GB U21 championship this term, Parkinson-Blackburn might have meant these two high scorers moving up out of the 6 & 7 berths. But not so, because the Brummies have struck gold with their two close-season recruits, Tom Bacon & Danyon Hume (snapped up respectively from Mildenhall & Rye House) who have improved their own averages and become match winners also. This was amply demonstrated on NT Final day with Smith (son of ex-World Finalist Andy) scoring paid 10 and both Hume and the very popular Bacon scoring paid 8.
Lastly completing the most impressive of septets is Darryl Ritchings whose heat 10 & heat 14 paid wins helped clinch the NT for his side.
The two sides having drawn when they met up at Perry Barr in the TPNL earlier this season (a result which may well prove absolutely vital for Kent in the final mix), this one with both sides at full strength is surely too close to call. It is poised to be a Speedway classic!
The action gets underway at Central Park at 6.30pm on Monday 18th. July (gates open at 5pm).
TAGS: Kent Kings