SPEEDWAYWeymouth Wildcates 58, Wightlink Islanders 36 (Wildcats win 97-87 on aggregate)
WIGHTLINK Islanders saw their 12-point lead — gained from the home leg of their first round National League KO Cup clash with Weymouth Wildcats — disappear in last Friday’s return clash in Dorset.
They went into the match confident, despite being without Dean Felton, who was injured, but with five separate crashes on the night for the Island side, the victory was Weymouth’s.
Thankfully though, no Island riders were injured in the crashes, a relief to the management who have already lost the services of Dan Blake with a broken leg.
Co-promoter Kevin Shepherd said: "Weymouth were far faster out of the blocks than us and were level on aggregate after just four heats," he said.
"Nearly all our riders underperformed where it mattered, getting out of the starts, where we really do need to sharpen up.
"The team knows what is required of them, and they are more than determined to put things right and start giving performances that we all know they are capable of.
"The management team are keen to give riders time to resolve their problems but are also keeping an open mind on other riders’ availability."
Despite all the problems encountered on the night, just three points separated the two sides on aggregate with three races to go at 82-79.
However, the 12th race changed all that.
It was an utter nightmare for the Islanders, when Rik Mullins fell forcing a re-run.
And in the restart, Danny Warwick also crashed out. The resultant 5-0 to Weymouth in the third running of heat 12 ended any lingering hopes of cup progression this year.
Islanders scorers; Danny Warwick 13, Nick Simmons 11, Ben Hopwood 5, Brendan Johnson 3, Tom Hill 2+1, Rik Mullins 2.
On Sunday, the Islanders, who will be boosted by the return of Felton, travel to Buxton for a National League clash before the King’s Lynn Young Stars visit Smallbrook Stadium on Tuesday night.
The action gets under way at 7.30pm.