ISLE OF WIGHT WIZARDS 20

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 16

WEYMOUTH Wildcats suffered a narrow 20-16 defeat as the Isle of Wight Wizards claimed victory in their Southern Development League clash.

The Wildcats’ team of Max Pankhurst, Martin Smith, captain Jordan Bull, who withdrew after one race, and young Bailey Fellows performed admirably and were left to rue their misfortune on a night which dealt them a fifth loss of the season.

Speaking to Echosport about the reverse, Cats’ co-promoter Martin Peters felt Weymouth were “millimetres” from a triumph.

He said: “It was very close and a few different things on another day could have been a win to our side.

“Bailey rode really well and he could’ve scored a point or two more.

“In one race he was all over the lad in front of him, he just couldn’t get past. He said he was quicker than him and had to slow down.

“Bailey did an extra ride and did two races on the trot. He had his first paid win behind Max and I can see him scoring more and more points each time he goes out.

“Max fell off when he was second which made a 5-1, so we could have come away with a win.

“It’s just a few things that went against us.

“It’s the way sport is, just millimetres from going your way.”

Peters also praised the display of Smith, who had never ridden on the Isle of Wight, having previously only raced at smaller venues.

He said: “The lads rode well – Martin had never been to the track before, he’s used to riding on smaller tracks. (The Isle of Wight) is the biggest track in the country.

“Max was just Max. If you took a few years off him he could easily ride the National League.

“He was riding as if he was a National League rider.

“He touched the tapes (in one race) and lost 15 metres but by the second bend he was second.

“He could’ve easily taken 11 points.”

Weymouth Wildcats’ busy schedule sees them contest two meetings in two days when they host second-placed Exeter at Eastbourne on Saturday. Weymouth lost 23-10 to the same opponents in June.

The Cats will then race against unbeaten leaders Kent a day later, looking to avenge a 23-13 loss in June.

Weymouth currently sit bottom of the table, four points adrift of the Wizards in fourth, who are level on points with Reading in third position.