Matt Wright, left, and Devils captain Seemond Stephens leave the tapes. Picture by David Valentine.
SPEEDWAYWIGHTLINK Islanders’ hopes of finishing in the top four of this year’s National League table — and qualifying for the playoffs — came to an end on Saturday, when the Buxton Hitmen hammered the Rye House Cobras 55-41 in their final league match.
The four points gained by the Hitmen means they have climbed above the Islanders into fourth place in the table and are almost assured of reaching the playoffs.
Islanders could still make it through, although it depends on whether Welsh side Newport Hornets can win their remaining three matches.
"Although it’s not impossible, I don’t really think it is going to happen," said Wightlink Islanders’ joint team manager Kevin Shepherd. "So good luck to the Hitmen in the forthcoming playoffs.
"I’m sure I speak for us all at our club when I say I’m bitterly disapponted but I suppose it was on the cards given our horrendous run of late season injuries. Despite our present disappointment we’ll bounce back next year."
The Islanders suffered more heartache on Tuesday night when they were beaten in the last heat by Plymouth Devils, in the National Trophy, at Smallbrook.
They lost 45-48, despite a brave performance where Islanders’ skipper Nick Simmons and his men went down fighting for every single point. Once again the Islanders’ suffered some cruel luck, new signing Matt Wright suffering engine failure in heat five, and Ben Hopwood grinding to a halt in heat nine.
Despite those two moments, there was just a point separating the sides going into the very last heat, with Plymouth leading 44-43 and the match points were still very much in the balance.
As the tapes rose Plymouth’s Kyle Hughes jetted into the lead from the outside gate and despite trying just about everything to do so, Simmons could not catch him.
And it was of little consequence in reality that Ben Hopwood, mounted on his spare bike, lost out on the battle for third place to the Devils’ experienced ex-Premier League star Mark Simmonds.
On the injury front, Brendan Johnson continues to make a good recovery after his horror crash last month and at last Thursday’s National Trophy match against Weymouth — which the Islanders lost 55-41 — he received a cheque for £668, the proceeds of a collection made for him. Meanwhile, further X-rays have revealed Chris Johnson suffered a cracked hip in addition to his other injuries following his crash against Plymouth at the end of August. Both Johnsons are not expected to return to their bikes until next year.
In addition, Welshman Tom Brown is patiently waiting for his broken collarbone to heal, and could be out of action for some time yet.