Tough evening's speedway for Isle of Wight Warriors in Manchester

IN THEIR penultimate league meeting of the season, the Isle of Wight Wightlink Warriors were given a mauling in Manchester last night (Friday).

The meeting, held at the National Speedway Stadium, was always going to be a tough one — and so it proved as the home side used all of their local track knowledge to race to a comprehensive 26-point victory.

The Colts, making a late charge for a play-off spot, were still smarting from their early season defeat on the Island — and fully exacted revenge with a dominant display built on a rock-solid team performance, which included just one last place heat finished, the result of a fall.

The Warriors, much weakened without Alfie Bowtell and Ben Morley, used Danny Ayres (Mildenhall) and Jason Edwards (Eastbourne) as their guest stand-in riders

It was Ayres who took the fight to the Colts, ending up with a splendid 14-point haul that included four wins from his five rides.

Directly after the meeting, Warriors boss Barry Bishop said: “We went there expecting a very tough night — and got one.

"The Colts are really quick round their track and deserved their win.

"Although we kept plugging away, we were second best and must now prepare to finish our fixtures on a high at Eastbourne in two weeks' time.

"It looks like we will need guest riders again in place of Alfie and Ben."

Warriors: Danny Ayres 14, Danno Verge 3, Scott Campos 6, Chris Widman 1, Jason Edwards 5, Dale Lamb 2, Shaun Tedham 0.