FOXES 48 KING’S LYNN 42
NORTHAMPTON Foxes have their second ROWE Motor Oil Premiership victory on the board after overcoming King’s Lynn 48-42 at the Shaleway on Monday.
The Foxes were comfortable for most of the evening after a whirlwind start saw them rack up a ten-point advantage after the first six races.
That prompted thoughts that they could also secure the aggregate point, but the Stars fought back in the closing stages and with the scores tied from home and away fixtures an additional Super Heat was required to split the sides.
King’s Lynn took the honours in that race meaning they headed back to Norfolk with a point, but the Foxes could still be pleased with their night’s work.
Visiting No.1 Max Fricke, who was outstanding, was a clear winner of Heat 1 but the Foxes quickly got to grips with the meeting as Luke Harrison and Troy Batchelor raced to the opening 5-1 in Heat 2, and that was followed by Matej Zagar and Niels-Kristian Iversen in the next as Stars captain Chris Harris suffered mechanical trouble.
Northampton captain Nicolai Klindt was disqualified from Heat 5 for touching the tapes, and the re-run resulted in a 3-3 as Klindt’s replacement Batchelor and Harrison sat in behind surprise winner Jordan Jenkins.
The Stars gained two points back in Heat 5 with Fricke taking his second win whilst Cooper Rushen stole third place from Iversen with an outside pass on the line, the Dane then falling after the race but without any injury.
A convincing 5-1 followed from Jaimon Lidsey and Kye Thomson over Jan Kvech in Heat 6 putting the Foxes 26-16 up, and that remained the story as each of the next six races were shared.
Klindt fought off the challenge of Harris to win Heat 7 and further successes followed for Thomson and Iversen in the next two races, the latter seeing the Dane inflict the only defeat of the night on Fricke who was taking a tactical substitute ride.
A super first lap of Heat 10 saw Harris get the better of Lidsey, but with Thomson holding Ben Cook at bay for third place there was no damage to the Foxes’ position.
Fricke won Heat 11 from the gate before Harris came up with a trademark ride in the next, passing Zagar on the opening lap and then making it around Batchelor on the last lap to take the win.
Kvech, who had been quiet, popped up to partner Fricke to a 5-1 in Heat 13 which meant the Stars resumed an interest in the meeting, but the Foxes secured the win with maximum points from Iversen and Batchelor in Heat 14.
King’s Lynn then needed a 5-1 in Heat 15 to level the aggregate scores and the picture changed when Iversen charged into the tapes and was disqualified. In the re-run, Lidsey took the lead but Fricke and Harris then forced their way through on the inside for the maximum advantage the visitors required.
That meant a Super Heat with the Foxes sending out Lidsey and Iversen, who held second and third places behind Harris for a lap – but the classy Fricke made it past Lidsey on lap two, which was enough to give the Stars some reward from the meeting.
Foxes manager Chris Adams said: “Obviously the lads are a little disappointed that they didn’t get the aggregate point, but at the end of the day their focus was on a win and finally we got one.
“All seven of our riders were paid for at least one win, which is definitely what we’re looking for, and in Heats 13 and 15 Jaimon (Lidsey) was there or thereabouts, but it’s a tough old game against good riders.
“He’s a bit disappointed but he needs to keep his head high because we won the meeting, and that’s what it was about.”
The Foxes are now back on the road for their next two matches, starting at Sheffield on Thursday (July 30).
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1
NORTHAMPTON 48: Troy Batchelor 10+2, Niels-Kristian Iversen 8+1, Jaimon Lidsey 8, Kye Thomson 7+3, Matej Zagar 6+1, Nicolai Klindt 5+1, Luke Harrison 4+1.
KING’S LYNN 42: Max Fricke 17, Chris Harris 10+1, Jan Kvech 4+2, Jordan Jenkins 4, Ben Cook 3+1, Cooper Rushen 2+1, Jody Scott 2.
Aggregate scores tied. King’s Lynn win the aggregate point after winning a Super Heat 6-3