Henry praises team after Tigers’ thrash league leaders

Monday, August 20, 2012
5:19 PM

Mildenhall Fen Tigers’ 53 Dudley Heathens 36

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Mildenhall Fen Tigers’ team manager Rob Henry declared his team’s performance as “superb” as they swept aside the challenge of top-of-the-table Dudley Heathens in a National league clash that saw some enthralling racing with the home side only gaining control in the latter stages.

Despite both sides missing key riders, Mildenhall in the shape of Cameron Heeps and Lewis Blackbird, and Dudley the trio of Adam Roynon, Ashley Morris and Tom Perry, they gave it their all, with Danny Halsey looking back to his best for Mildenhall as he produced a real captain’s performance, with excellent backing from Stefan Nielsen, Joe Jacobs and guest Jason Garrity, replacing Heeps. After a shaky start and heavy falls young reserve Josh Bates dusted himself down to produce two superb wins as well.

For the Heathens, their guest Gary Irving and captain Bryon Bekker never gave up making the home riders work hard for the win and Darryl Ritchings was perhaps a shade unlucky not to pick up another point or two.

It was Garrity and Irving who produced the race of the day in Heat 13, passing and re-passing each other before both came to grief in a horrible looking crash as they approached the finishing line. As a result both picked up arm injuries, ironically with Irving’s likely to rule him out of the return at Dudley on Tuesday, where he was due to guest for Mildenhall.

Afterwards Rob Henry said, “It was a terrific result for us and the boys did brilliantly in a difficult atmosphere. I don’t care what anybody says, both teams had key riders missing and when I looked at the line-ups before the meeting, I was convinced it was going to be a lot closer. But we dug deep, showed we weren’t afraid, and got the result we deserved. With Lewis back on Tuesday I see no reason why we shouldn’t run them close or win even if they have got their full strength team out.”

Mildenhall Fen Tigers:

Jason Garrity (g) 3 3 1 2’ = 9+1

Lewis Blackbird R/R

Joe Jacobs 0 3 1’ 2’ 2’ 3 = 11+3

Daniel Halsey (c) 2’ 2 3 3 3 0 = 13+1

Stefan Nielsen 3 1 3 3 3 = 13

Ryan Terry-Daley X 0 0 = 0

Josh Bates X 1 X 3 3 0 = 7

Dudley Heathens:

Gary Irving (g) 2 3 2 4 X = 11

Darryl Ritchings 1’ 1 0 2 1’ 1’ = 6+3

Ashley Morris R/R

Dan Greenwood 0 1’ 0 1 2 = 4+1

Byron Bekker (c) 2 2 1 2 1 2 = 10

Conor Dwyer X 0 0 = 0

James White Williams 3 0 1’ 0 1’ = 5+2