Belle Vue’s Colts claim league crown after second leg fightback
BELLE Vue Colts have been crowned National League Champions beating Eastbourne in the Grand Final.
They trailed by 12 points heading into the second leg at the National Speedway Stadium, and faced a challenging night after the loss of Andy Mellish in the first leg while also still being without Lee Payne.
Belle Vue were in command almost immediately despite their handicap, and recovered the aggregate scores to within four points after just five heats.
They levelled soon after, and in heat 12 Rob Shuttleworth and Luke Woodhull gave them the advantage, following a terrifying collision between team-mates Kyle Bickley and Dan Bewley in Heat 10.
Thankfully both escaped without major injury, and Bewley teamed up with Jack Smith in Heat 13 to extend the Colts’ lead to six points with two heats to go.
And it was skipper Shuttleworth who sealed the deal in Heat 14, bagging a 3-3 which ensured Eastbourne could not catch them.
An ecstatic Jack Smith said: “It’s been a dream to be part of this club this year. My dad was a legend of the Aces and I’m so proud to have represented Belle Vue at both levels this year.
“We’ve gone all season unbeaten at home and now we’re National League champions, it’s just an indescribable and amazing feeling.
“We’ve put in the hard work all year and we came too far to throw it away.”