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RAIDERS HIT BY HITMEN
Sunday October 23, 2016
The BMR Raiders made a bright start to their final scheduled fixture only to ultimately fall to a 52-38 defeat at Buxton in the Travel Plus National League on Sunday.
The Raiders made light of the absence of Ben Morley in the early stages – the 2015 League Riders’ Champion has already completed his UK racing and flew out to Australia last Tuesday – with a 4-2 from Macauley Leek and Connor Locke in Heat 2 giving them a two point advantage after eight races, the other seven being shared.
The match then swung totally in the other direction, as the Hitmen powered in three 5-1s and three 4-2s over the next six heats to ensure a comfortable victory, although Rob Branford and Luke Priest did sign off with a maximum over home guests Tom Woolley and Tony Atkin in the final race to secure a respectable total for the Hertfordshire side.
The duo finished top of Rye’s score-chart with 12 and paid 10 respectively, with George Hunter popping in a win and paid 8 in support.
With the cancellation of the National League Pairs at King’s Lynn following two rain-offs of the event, the Raiders have one outstanding fixture which is away to Coventry, although the October 31st deadline for this staging is now looming. Regardless of the outcome, the Raiders are destined to finish ninth out of twelve clubs in the final League table.
Talking after Sunday’s match at Hi Edge, Rye House Co-Promoter Steve Jenson felt that, “We were certainly up for it, and really wanted to win in order to help round off the season on a high, but it wasn’t to be.
“Obviously we missed Ben (Morley) but it was an opportunity to give all the boys a ride. George (Hunter) and Macauley (Leek) did well to support Rob (Branford) and Luke (Priest) with race wins.
“Overall, it was a refreshing match with a really positive atmosphere: just fourteen lads going out and enjoying themselves on the track – which is how it should be.â€
BMR Raiders:
Robert Branford 12, Luke Priest 9+1, George Hunter 7+1, Sam Woods 4+1, Macauley Leek 4, Connor Locke 2, Matt Saul R/R
Buxton:
Tom Woolley (guest) 14+1, Tony Atkin (guest) 10, Ryan Blacklock 10, Joe Lawlor 8+1, Lee Geary 7+3, Ryan Burton 3+1, Shelby Rutherford R/R
Match Points: Buxton 3 Rye House 0
Picture: IAN CHARLES
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