28 07 10 G'LEE FOR ISLANDERS AS THEY TAME THE CATS

[Tim]

G'LEE FOR ISLANDERS AS THEY TAME THE CATS
By Isle of Wight Speedway ~ Tuesday 27th July 2010
ISLE OF WIGHT 60 – WEYMOUTH 32 National league
The Wightlink Islanders management requested a big performance in this basement battle and boy oh boy did the home team rise to the occasion. In front on the biggest crowd of the season The Islanders took the bull by the horn and ripped into the visitors, leaving the “Wildcats” team manager Phil Bartlett scratching his head in frustration.

The first heat saw home skipper Nick Simmons and new signing Lee Smethills slam home a 5-1 for a perfect start as visiting number one Byron Bekker on a rather sick sounding machine was left in their dust. Heat two and both Wildcat reserves made the start, but by the time they came out of turn two Tom Hill had passed both of them and Dean Felton had nipped into third for a 4-2 and a 9-3 lead. Ex Islander Tom brown leapt out of the start in heat 3 only for first Danny Warwick to fly by quickly followed by an inspirational Brendan Johnson for a 14-4 advantage.

The huge crowd were rubbing their eyes in amazement in heat 4 as Ben Hopwood produced a superb pass of visiting rider James Cockle as the home side continued to tear into the opposition. With Hill taking third the lead was increased to twelve at 18-6. Bartlett threw in Bekker for double points in heat 5, but it made no difference as Johnson and Warwick simply out classed him for another big 5-1. 23-7. Cockle stopped the rot in heat six, but he had to work hard for the win as Smethills and Simmons pushed him all the way, with riders swopping positions with each other for fun. 26-10.
Tom Brown then just about managed to hold off the challenge of Ben Hopwood in the seventh, but again Felton snatched third to split the heat. 29-13.

Bartlett made his last throw of the dice in heat eight, putting McKenna in for double points, but all he could do was watch the rear wheel  of Lee Smethills who stormed to an impressive victory .
At 33-17 the match was all but done and dusted as far as the destination of the league points were concerned, but the Islanders had no intention of easing up. And Brendan Johnson produced another class ride as he held off a stiff challenge from Cockle in the ninth, with Warwick having to settle for third. 37-19. Tom brown then had to ride hard to hold off Nick Simmons in heat 10, but once again Smethills held third for a split heat. 40-22.

Heat eleven was probably the best race of the season and had the crowd on their feet cheering,  as all four riders  chased each other with only inches to spare for the whole four laps. Dean Felton took the chequered flag in first position with Bekker, McKinna and Hopwood closely behind.  43-25. Heat twelve was another classy race as Danny Warwick swooped around the outside of Tom Brown to record another home win, Hills third place saw the Islanders stretch the lead to a uncatchable 47-27 advantage. Heat thirteen saw the big guns of both sides come together, but it was the Islanders pairing of Hopwood and Simmons who took the glory with Bekker ‘s third place tough justice on his efforts which saw him pass Simmons three times only for the home captain to come back pass. Again the fans were on their feet cheering on their handlebar hero’s as the gap was widened to 52-28.

Johnson shot from the start of heat 14 to record his fourth win on the bounce and he was followed home by Felton for another 5-1 as the home side rubbed the visiting noses in to the Smallbrook dust. The final heat saw Simmons produce another lightning start as he outpaced Brown and Cockle, with Johnson losing his maximum hopes after locking up on turn two. The final score saw the Islanders move 7 points clear of the bottom club and also above of Scunthorpe, but not only this, it lifted the team and the spirits high for Friday’s return match at Radipole Lane.

Scorers;
Isle of Wight Islanders = 60
1. Nick Simmons...3, 2, 2, 2', 3 = 12+1, 2. Lee Smethills...2', 1', 3, 1' = 7+3, 3. Danny Warwick...3, 2', 1, 3 = 9+1, 4. Brendan Johnson...2', 3, 3, 3, 0 = 11+1, 5. Ben Hopwood...3, 2, 0, 3 = 8, 6. Dean Felton...1, 1', 3, 2' = 7+2, 7. Tom Hill...3, 1, 1, 1 = 6

Weymouth Wildcats = 32
1. Byron Bekker...R, F/R!, 2, 1 = 3, 2. Adam McKinna...1, 1, 4!, 1' = 7+1, 3. Tom Brown...1, 3, 3, 2, 2 = 11, 4. Gary Cottham...R, 0, 0, 0 = 0, 5. James Cockle...2, 3, 2, 0, 1' = 8+1, 6. Richard Andrews...0, 0 0, 0 = 0, 7. Luke Chessell...2, 0, 0, 1 = 3

What they said;
Danny Warwick, this was a great performance, we rode as a team and it was great to see Brendan getting the points, this is when speedway is fun.
Nick Simmons, This was team performance, now we have Lee in the team, we can beat anyone, and he can get 10 points a match riding like that. There was some hard riding and the score did us justice for the effort we put in, I wish the track could be like this every week.
Kevin Shepherd, We wanted a team performance and we got one, this was excellent and sets us up ready for Friday.

The next Home action is in seven days time when another local derby takes place as the Bournemouth Buccaneers come across the Solent. 7.30pm start.