Northampton Foxes v Leicester Lions

NORTHAMPTON collected their third victory of their debut ROWE Motor Oil Premiership campaign as they came from eight points down to overcome Leicester 47-43.

The Foxes found their form following a lengthy delay caused by a high-speed crash between Lions duo Nick Morris and Dan Thompson in Heat 7,which forced both riders to withdraw.

Despite that major setback, the Lions did leave the Shaleway with the aggregate point thanks to 5-1s in Heats 14 and 15 after they had dropped 12 points down on the night.

Niels-Kristian Iversen led the Foxes’ scoring with 11+1 and both Nicolai Klindt and Jaimon Lidsey scored 9+1, whilst Lions reserve Joe Thompson scored 12 from seven rides as the visitors covered as best they could after the crash.

Ryan Douglas (11) and Sam Masters (11+1) secured the aggregate point with a 5-1 in the last race, reversing the result achieved by Iversen and Lidsey in Heat 13.

Northampton manager Chris Adams said: “It was great to come to a meeting where the track was fairly similar to how it was last time, but at the start we weren’t getting out of the traps quickly enough.

“But the riders figured it out and started making some gates, and we got race wins throughout with our heat leaders scoring points all the way through.

“I do feel Leicester deserved the aggregate point. We let it slip a little in those last two races,  but our main focus was on winning the meeting, and considering they had two riders out they did well to get that point.”

Lions boss Stewart Dickson said: “I think we’ll know more in the morning about both Dan and Nick, and we’re hopeful that they’re not season ending injuries, although it’s fair to say they are both doubtful for Thursday (at Ipswich).

“The result was not the most important thing in those circumstances, although it was good to get the point out of it which was some small consolation.

“But at the moment that’s not really what’s on my mind – it’s waiting to see what sort of response I get from these two, although I’m a little more hopeful now than I was when I saw the crash.”

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2
NORTHAMPTON 47: Niels-Kristian Iversen 11+1, Jaimon Lidsey 9+1, Nicolai Klindt 9+1, Kye Thomson 8+1, Adam Ellis 5+1, Mitch McDiarmid 3+2, Freddy Hodder 2.
LEICESTER 43: Joe Thompson 12, Sam Masters 11+1, Ryan Douglas 11, Drew Kemp 3+1, Paco Castagna 3+1, Nick Morris 3, Dan Thompson 0.
Leicester win the aggregate point

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Photo credit: JEFF DAVIES