Tigers hang on to claim opening day win

Monday, April 9, 2012
9:25 AM

Mildenhall Fen Tigers 47, Dudley Heathens 46 (National League Shield 1st Leg)

Mildenhall co-promoter Michael Lee declared himself happy as the Fen Tigers opened their 2012 campaign with a win, yesterday.

Although it ended up being anything but the routine victory they seemed set for, after building up a 10 point lead, in the first leg of their National League Shield clash with the Dudley Heathens.

Fresh from his winter in Australia, Joe Jacobs was the stylish winner of Heat 1, easily holding Heathens star and West Row track record holder Adam Roynon at bay, with Cameron Heeps taking third spot.

To the delight of the Tigers’ supporters, teenage debut making youngsters Nathan Stoneman and Josh Bates claimed a maximum in Heat 2, showing a maturity that belied their young years.

Perhaps underlining why these two teams are the most highly rated by many in the National League this year, the next seven heats saw the points shared with nearly all the Fen Tigers getting amongst the race wins, with skipper Lewis Blackbird leading from the front and getting great support from his teammates.

When Heeps and Jacobs claimed a maximum in Heat 10, to many that signalled job done for the home side. But then having surprisingly been without a race win so far, the classy Roynon took a double points win in the next race, and then, when Darryl Ritchings and Tom Perry claimed Dudley’s first 5-1 of the afternoon, suddenly it was game on again with the deficit reduced to just three poiints.

After Heat 13 saw the spoils shared again as Roynon kept Blackbird and Heeps behind him, it was Danny Halsey and the impressive 15-year-old Stoneman who claimed the all-important 4-2 that guaranteed Mildenhall victory.

However the now flying Roynon and Ashley Morris bagged a last heat 5-1 to leave the Tigers taking the narrowest of leads into the second leg on Tuesday week.

Afterwards Michael Lee said: “I was delighted with today’s performance. Considering this is the first outing the boys had had as a team, they did well and blew some of the cobwebs away. Lewis proved what a good skipper he’s going to be, but I have to give special praise to Joe Jacobs who was outstanding and unlucky not to score more. Our two youngsters, Nathan and Josh, also did us proud, and showed what potential they’ve got. To score paid nine between them was a fantastic start. I’ve no fears about going to Dudley with a small lead. The Heathens are a great team full of good riders but we won there last year and I know we can again this year.”

Mildenhall Fen Tigers:

Cameron Heeps 1, 3, 3, 1’, 1 = 9+1

Joe Jacobs 3, X, 3, 2’, 0 = 8+1

Stefan Nielsen 1’, 3, 1’, 1 = 6+2

Daniel Halsey 2, 0, 2, 3 = 7

Lewis Blackbird (c) 3, 3, 2, 2 = 10

Nathan Stoneman 3, 0, 1’, 1 = 5+1

Josh Bates 2’, X, 0, 0 = 2+1

Dudley Heathens:

Adam Roynon 2, 1’, 6, 3, 2’ = 14+2

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

Tom Perry 3, 2, X, 2’ = 7+1