Lion Cubs see off Chargers despite losing their talisman
LEICESTER’S second team, the Lion Cubs, came out on top of a titanic struggle against the Oxford Chargers by 51 points to 39 in what was their closest contest at home this season, writes Alan Jones.
The visitors threatened to end the Lion Cubs’ proud record of 24 matches without losing at home in all official competitions at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena.
But Saturday night’s win came at a cost as Leicester struggled early on after losing Dan Thompson, who completed one race before withdrawing from the meeting with suspected concussion from a fall.
Without their talisman and top scorer this season, Dan’s teammates rallied round after the Lion Cubs team went behind as early as the second heat.
The Oxford riders resisted all attempts by Leicester to get back into the match and it took the Lion Cubs until the end of the 11th heat before they broke the visitors’ resistance to edge ahead for the first time.
After the interval, Connor Coles and Max Perry dealt a huge blow to a spirited Oxford team by scoring their first maximum race advantage of the
night. The outcome moved the Lion Cubs six points ahead and two races later Perry combined with Tom Spencer to outscore their opponents.
It was a twice-run race after both Lion Cubs riders fell in what was
considered first bend bunching at the initial attempt.
But the duo picked themselves up to deliver the goods, which was to prove a defining result.
Leicester rounded off the match with another maximum score through Joe Thompson, who completed each of his six heats unbeaten.
Coles came second to his skipper with a career best performance since joining the club in the winter.
Leicester Lion Cubs 51: Dan Thompson 2 points, Mickie Simpson 3+1, Connor Coles 16+1, Tom Spencer 2+1, Joe Thompson 18, Vinnie Foord 1 and Max Perry 9+1
Oxford Chargers: Jordan Jenkins 11 points, Jacob Clouting 0, Sam Hagon 4+1, Henry Atkins 5+1, Jake Milford 6+2, Aron Butcher 6+1 and Jody Scott 7+2