Cats denied by Mighty Midget (From Dorset Echo)

Cats denied by Mighty Midget

11:37pm Friday 16th July 2010

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WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 44 BOURNEMOUTH BUCCANEERS 46

BOURNEMOUTH guest Jon Armstrong returned to haunt the Weymouth Wildcats after winning a thrilling battle with Byron Bekker in heat 15 to hand the Buccaneers a dramatic 46-44 victory.

Former club asset Armstrong was linked with a return to the Wildcats earlier this year as they searched for a replacement for broken ankle victim Tom Brown.

But he refused to walk out on Dudley, where he was covering for the injured Ben Taylor, as he was unable to race on Fridays due to his work commitments.

This resulted in him agreeing a transfer to Newport, who allowed him to stay on loan with the Heathens.

There is no doubt Weymouth missed him last night, as he led the Buccaneers’ scorechart and won a titanic tussle with Bekker to seal three vital points for Bournemouth.

But Armstrong enjoyed his return to Radipole Lane, and was pleased to lead his adopted side to victory.

He said: “They brought me in to do a job and I felt like I did my job. I had an engine failure in heat one. Other than that, it went reasonably well.

“After clinching the meeting like that at the end, hopefully it will get me the chance to do more guest bookings if they need anyone.”

Asked whether he took satisfaction in denying Wildcats their second National League win of 2010, he said: “Maybe a little bit. But it’s a place I enjoy riding. I enjoy racing here. It’s just a shame that what happened, happened. But who knows what will happen in the future.”

On a night where 11 races finished 3-3, there were never more than four points between the sides.

But Buccaneers held a slender advantage from heat five onwards, after Armstrong and Daniel Halsey broke the deadlock for the visitors with a 5-1 over Tom Brown and Gary Cottham.

Despite being bottom of the National League table with just four points to their name, Phil Bartlett’s Weyline Wildcats simply refused to give in.

And it all came down a tense last-heat decider with Bekker and James Cockle on the Weymouth side facing off against Armstrong and Mark Baseby for the Buccaneers.

It looked like the Wildcats were going to bag a famous win over their Dorset neighbours, when Cockle cut across Armstrong on turn one and Bekker picked up speed out wide.

Cockle hit a rut, though, and this allowed Mighty Midget Armstrong to burst through on his inside.

Bekker took up the chase around the boards and it was clear neither man would let up. But the South African was gently eased wide by his Mancunian rival and Armstrong motored over the line to a match-winning triumph. He was given the bumps at the pit gate by a grateful Bournemouth team.

While some guests have a habit of taking things easy when representing another side, Armstrong had no qualms about standing his ground against Boksburg-born bullet Bekker.

He said: “It’s racing – you can’t afford to back off. Points make prizes and they’re your wages, aren’t they? If you back off, you may as well give the guy some money.”

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