It was always going to be a big ask for the Raiders to successfully defend a narrow 3 point advantage in the return leg of this KO Cup tie, and a big ask became even bigger when No.1 David Mason broke down en route to the Island and failed to arrive.
The Raiders were forced to operate Rider-Replacement in their captain’s absence – which netted just 3 points – but even then briefly took the lead off a fine 5-1 from Tom Braddock and Nick Lee. It was Braddock’s first ever away ride at this level.
After the Islanders had maxed out themselves in the next race, another 5-1 - this time from Lee and James Sarjeant - gave Rye the lead again at 13-11. However, it was to be the last heat advantage the visitors gained. The home side pulled clear 35-24 by Heat 10, and any comeback hopes the Raiders harboured evaporated when the Tactically nominated James Sarjeant stopped in the next race after seeing a red light in the car park. As if to rub salt in the wound, the Islanders rattled off four consecutive 5-1s to close out the tie, with former Rocket Kyle Hughes completing a five ride maximum in his debut for the Ryde side.
Team manager John Sampford admitted afterwards that “We were competitive for nearly half the meeting and then it all went away from us. Although Shane (Hazelden) won Heat 11, when James (Sarjeant) stopped our hope of an 8-1 – which would have brought us back to within 4 points - was gone.
“If there’s a main plus coming out of this match, it’s that tonight has given us track time to shake off the cobwebs ahead of Monday’s League opener against Buxton. It’s also put us in good stead for when we return to the Island in the League in a month’s time.”
Rye House scorers:
David Mason R/R Shane Hazelden 8 (5 rides) Ben Morley 3 (4) Luke Chessell 3 (5) James Sarjeant 8 (6) Tom Braddock 4 (5) Nick Lee 5+2 (5)
Isle of Wight scorers:
Kyle Hughes 13+2 (5 rides, paid maximum) Marc Owen R/R Danny Warwick 10 (4) Paul Starke 14+2 (6) Ben Hopwood 9 (4) Danny Stoneman 9+2 (6) Gary Cottham 3+1 (5)
20/05/13 1930 Belle Vue v Lakeside (EL) 21/05/13 1930 Berwick v Newcastle (PL) 21/05/13 1930 Dudley v King's Lynn (NL) 21/05/13 1900 Isle of Wight v Mildenhall (NT) 22/05/13 1930 Birmingham v Wolverhampton (EL) 22/05/13 1930 Poole v Lakeside (EL) 23/05/13 1930 Swindon v Birmingham (EL) 23/05/13 1930 Ipswich v Plymouth (LC) 23/05/13 1945 Sheffield v Dudley (Ozchem Trophy) 24/05/13 2000 Lakeside v Coventry (EL) 24/05/13 1930 Edinburgh v Scunthorpe (PL) 24/05/13 1915 Plymouth v Leicester (PL) 25/05/13 1930 Eastbourne v Swindon (EL) 25/05/13 1930 Leicester v Plymouth (PL) 25/05/13 1900 Workington v Glasgow (PL) 25/05/13 1900 Stoke v Mildenhall (NT) 26/05/13 1830 Newcastle v Scunthorpe (PL) 26/05/13 1500 Glasgow v Edinburgh (LC) 26/05/13 1600 Rye House v Plymouth (LC) 26/05/13 1630 Mildenhall v Coventry (NLKOC) 26/05/13 1500 Buxton v Kent (NT) 27/05/13 1930 Coventry v Peterborough (EL) 27/05/13 1300 Peterborough v Coventry (EL) 27/05/13 1930 Poole v King's Lynn (EL) 27/05/13 1930 Wolverhampton v Birmingham (EL) 27/05/13 1500 Scunthorpe v Somerset (PL) 27/05/13 1500 Kent v Mildenhall (NT) 27/05/13 1630 Scunthorpe Saints Select v Milton Keynes (Ch) 28/05/13 1930 Dudley v Buxton (NLKOC) 28/05/13 1900 Isle of Wight v Kent (NLKOC)
LATEST RESULTS...
WEDNESDAY MAY 22:
NATIONAL LEAGUE King's Lynn v Isle of Wight - OFF
MONDAY MAY 20:
NATIONAL TROPHY Kent v Stoke - OFF
SUNDAY MAY 19:
PREMIER LEAGUE Glasgow 40 – Joe Screen 11+1 Leicester 49 – Magnus Karlsson 14 Premier League points: Glasgow 0 Leicester 4
NATIONAL TROPHY Mildenhall 47 – Jon Armstrong 13+1 Isle of Wight 42 – Adam Ellis 12+2 National Trophy points: Mildenhall 2 Isle of Wight 1 BRONZE HELMET: Tom Perry beat Stefan Nielsen
DAVID HOWE TESTIMONIAL, Scunthorpe 1 Josh Auty (Scunthope/Birmingham) 2 Morten Risager (Ipswich) 3 Ashley Birks (Scunthorpe/Swindon) SATURDAY MAY 18:
PREMIER LEAGUE Leicester 53 – Magnus Karlsson 14+1 Workington 40 – Cameron Heeps 12+2 Premier League points: Leicester 3 Workington 0
Plymouth 42 – Mark Lemon 12+1 Edinburgh 51 – Craig Cook 13+1 Premier League points: Plymouth 0 Edinburgh 4
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2, Rye House 500cc 1 Nathan Greaves 2 Reece Downes 3 Michael Neale 4 Kelsey Dugard
250cc 1 Lewis Whitmore 2 Callum Walker 3 Luke Woodhull 4 Zach Wajknecht
