National League

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 43

RYE HOUSE COBRAS 52

WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats slumped to a second successive home defeat as they went down to a Marc Owen-inspired Rye House.

The 15-year-old reserve stole the show with an impressive 15+2 haul to sink the Cats and leave them rooted to the foot of the National League table with just a single point to their name.

The leading lights for a patched up home side – still feeling the effects of the absent Byron Bekker and Terry Day – were skipper Tom Brown (14+1) and James Cockle (12).

But their efforts failed to prevent the Wildcats suffering a 53-42 loss on home shale.

Reflecting on tonight's reversal, team manager Jem Dicken said: “It was very disappointing and once again it was a case of their reserve riders winning them the meeting. We are struggling without Terry and Byron, no doubt about it.

“Tom did all right, as did James. Gary Cottham struggled again and I don’t really know what’s going on with him at the moment as one race he’s awesome and the next he’s not.

“The same goes for the reserves and it’s frustrating as we should have won the meeting, and we would have done had we been able to put out a full-strength side. We’re sorely missing Terry and Byron.”

“I over-watered the track a bit, because of the sunshine, which caught our riders out a bit, so I hold my hand up for that. Having said that it’s the same for both sides.”

Dicken was far from surprised by Owen’s dazzling display, revealing: “Marc Owen was someone I wanted to sign at the end of last year but it didn’t happen. He’s a top rider and it’s unfortunate we didn’t get him.”

The hosts got off to an unfortunate start when Cockle was let down by his machinery whilst second. Cobras’ Jamie Smith breezed past and went on to take the win with team-mate Ben Morley third behind guest rider Mark Jones.

A strong show from Richard Andrews saw him claim the second heat, but fellow reserve rider Danny Stoneman could only finish last and the race was shared.

The Cats then took the initiative in heat three thanks to a Brown and Gary Cottham maximum. But it was all square at 12-12 in the next after Owen led the Cobras to a second 4-2 of the evening.

Owen repeated the trick in the fifth with a storming victory over Brown and Rye House number one Smith.

The visitors maintained their two-point lead after heat six before Andrews, after a dismal start to race seven, almost snatched a Weymouth 4-2 to level proceedings once more.

As it was, Morley, who was easing off as he crossed the finish, just got the nod to claim the final point on offer and ensure back-to-back 3-3s.

The Cobras opened up a six-point gap with their first maximum, as teenager Owen romped to a third straight win, before stretching the lead to eight immediately after.

The Cats looked down and out heading into heat 11, sitting 12 points adrift of their opponents, and the outcome continued to look grim when the hosts failed to take advantage of Cockle’s tactical ride.

Weymouth played their tactical card once again in race 12 and this time it worked with captain Brown diving down the inside of Strudwick on the final lap to claim a 6-3 in the home side’s favour.

An unlikely comeback was now on the cards as Cockle and Jones masterminded a maximum haul.

But those feint hopes were quickly dashed by the electric Owen, who spearheaded a Rye House 5-1 to move nine in front going into the last race, which ended level to maintain the difference and complete a disappointing night for the Wessex Raceway faithful.