Mildenhall Fen Tigers have 16-point lead in KO Cup semi-final with Belle Vue
Mildenhall's Connor Mountain, in red, leads Drew Kemp. Picture: CAROL PRYKE-DOWNIE - Credit: Archant
The Mildenhall Fen Tigers have a 16-point lead to defend in their KO Cup semi-final with Belle Vue.
Jordan Jenkins is way out in front for Mildenhall. Picture: CAROL PRYKE-DOWNIE - Credit: Archant
A 16-point advantage gives the Fen Tigers something to defend in Manchester when they will need their never say die spirit to see them into their second final of the season.
The meeting started well with a fine win for Jordan Jenkins and when Drew Kemp and Alex Spooner combined for a 5-1 in heat two the Fen Tigers had an early six point lead.
This was immediately pegged back after a harsh looking exclusion for Jenkins in heat three as he went powerfully under Kyle Bickley in the first and second bend.
The resulting re-run saw a 5-1 for the visitors that pulled the lead back to two. The Fen Tigers were soon back in the ascendancy as the exciting Kemp gated Connor Coles in heat four before being joined by last Sunday’s hero Jon Armstrong, who swept past Coles to join his teenage partner.
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Jenkins quickly atoned for his heat three exclusion as he skilfully outfoxed Bickley with a smart pass to take the heat win.
The Fen Tigers stretched their advantage to ten points with another 5-1 in heat six as Kemp passed Coles to join the fast starting Connor Mountain before Armstrong powered to victory in heat seven to maintain the lead.
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Heat eight saw more controversy as a brilliant first bend by Mountain left Bickley high and dry on the first bends and with Kemp racing through the inside another 5-1 looked to have been secured.
The cheers were soon bought to an abrupt halt as Kemp was excluded for not having a solid disc fitted on the right-hand side of his rear wheel.
This didn’t hold the Fen Tigers back for long though as the Mountain/Armstrong partnership both swept past Coles in heat ten for another 5-1 and went into the interval 14 points ahead.
That proved enough, with the Fen Tigers eventually running out winners with a 16-point advantage to take to the return leg on Friday.
Promoter Kevin Jolly said: “Connor, Jon and Jordan keep producing the goods and in young Drew we have a real diamond who can be our wildcard at Belle Vue.
“I know we took a heavy defeat there in the league meeting but that was back in the very early part of the season and we go there this time knowing alot more what is required to be successful at their track.
“Armo has ridden there a few times and his knowledge and experience will be invaluable to us.”
Scorers –
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 53
Connor Mountain 14 (6 rides), Jon Armstrong 12+3 (6), Drew Kemp 12+1 (7), Jordan Jenkins 12 (5), Alex Spooner 2+1 (3) and Ryan Terry Daley 1 (3). R/R for Danny Halsey.
Belle Vue Colts 37
Rob Shuttleworth 11+1 (6 rides), Mitchell Davey 9+3 (6), Kyle Bickley 7+2 (5), Luke Woodhull 5+2 (7), Connor Coles 5 (5) and Lewis Whitmore 0 (1). R/R for Lee Payne.
