BELLE VUE Colts bosses want “more of the same” for the trip to Leicester tonight (7pm).
It’s the last National Development League clash of the season for the Manchester side at the Hydroscand Arena.
The JR Ashworth Colts came agonisingly close to victory at Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon, only to lose out cruelly 45-44, as Freddy Hodder suffered an engine failure whilst comfortably placed to secure victory in Heat 15.
The defeat robbed the Colts of leapfrogging the Tigers in the NDL table, but despite the disappointment, the team bosses were delighted with the fighting performance.
Co-manager Graham Goodwin said: “We were absolutely gutted for the lads. For them to lose out in such a way after arguably the best performance of the season was heartbreaking to see.
“With rain falling throughout the meeting, conditions were very testing, and credit must go to both teams for getting on with it, but we felt we were the better team on the day.
“The effort was there to see throughout the team; from Will Cairns at the top, making light of the conditions to have a terrific battle, passing and repassing with Ace Pijper in Heat 13, right down to Billy Budd having his best score of paid eight.
“The grin on Billy’s face when he came in after winning Heat 14 was something we’ve waited to see all year.
“Now we want more of that same battling belief at Leicester to finish the season. The Lion Cubs are a very strong outfit, led by Cooper Rushen and Ben Trigger, but there’s no reason we can’t go there and put up a good show to finish the season on a positive.”
The Colts are again without Jack Kingston, who tested positive for Covid at the weekend, and so they operate rider replacement at the No.3 position.
Meanwhile the Lion Cubs draft in Middlesbrough’s Tom Spencer and Charlie Southwick as guests for the injured Max Perry and Max James.
Teams:
Leicester Lion Cubs: Cooper Rushen, Ryan Ingram, Max Perry R/R, Charlie Southwick (G), Ben Trigger, Seth Norman (G), Eli Meadows.
Belle Vue JR Ashworth & Sons Colts: William Cairns, Jack Shimelt. Jack Kingston R/R, Dylan Huthwaite, Freddy Hodder, Harry Fletcher, Billy Budd.