LIONS TAKE TOP-THREE CLASH

LEICESTER consolidated second position in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership with an entertaining 51-39 win over King’s Lynn at the Hydroscand Arena.

The Lions raced into a 12-point lead after six heats and although the Stars at one stage halved that gap to six, they were immediately put on the back foot again.

Former Leicester man Max Fricke joined Chris Harris for a 5-1 in Heat 9 for the visitors, but the home side hit back in the next race when Ryan Douglas and Dan Thompson both came from the back, and Fricke then blew an engine just after he had taken the lead in Heat 11.

Douglas scored 13+1 for the home side, dropping his only point to Fricke in the last race, whilst Thompson (10+2) and the returning Kyle Howarth (10) were both also in double figures. Fricke led the Stars’ scoring with 12 from six rides.

Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was convincing when you look at the scoreline, although I never actually felt we were that far away from them during the meeting.

“When they got the tactical substitute it worked for them, and fair play, but we rallied back and got a 5-1 in the very next race with Dougy and Dan, and that one-two partnership has been very strong for us.

“There was a real feel-good atmosphere in the stadium tonight. I know it’s hot which is challenging for everybody, but the racing was good, we got the three points and a score of 51 didn’t flatter us at all.”

King’s Lynn boss Rob Lyon said: “The gates were the key in the first four races. We knew gates one and three were better, and Leicester took advantage of that.

“Once again we were hanging on to their coat tails, and we got back into the match before having the misfortune with Max’s engine blow-up, where there would still have been the possibility of getting something, but that four-point swing really killed it off.”

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Photo credit: STEVE DIXON