CRADLEY roared to an emphatic 65-27 National League win over Kent at Monmore on Tuesday – with three riders finishing the meeting unbeaten.
Steve Worrall reeled off six wins out of six, and he was joined by paid maximum men Paul Starke and Max Clegg as the Heathens ran riot in the second half of the meeting.
The Kings had been expected to pose a tough challenge, especially with the home side being without the injured Tom Perry, but Cradley supplied all fifteen of the race wins and suffered just three last places.
One of those came when Matt Williamson slid off in Heat 1 with conditions greasy after pre-meeting rain, and Danny Phillips was another faller in Heat 4 when he clipped the back wheel of Danny Ayres.
But these turned out to be only minor setbacks and with track conditions rapidly improving the Heathens took control of the meeting.
Skipper Starke started the ball rolling by surging inside both Luke Chessell and Simon Lambert to go from third to first in Heat 1, and Clegg was next to lower the colours of the Kings’ top man Lambert in Heat 5.
Heathens had to wait until Heat 6 for the first 5-1 of the night, coming courtesy of Starke and Clegg, and with the visitors’ Ben Morley taking four points from a tactical ride in the next race the Kings were still remaining in contention.
A Cradley 4-2 in Heat 8 increased the margin to ten points, and incredibly each of the remaining seven races ended in Heathens 5-1s as the home side remorselessly extended their lead.
Morley crashed out of Heat 10 as he attempted to pass the impressive Nathan Greaves whilst Williamson, not for the first time this season, defeated an opposing No.1 in Heat 11 when Lambert went for double.
The visitors were unlucky in Heat 12 when Morley dropped a chain at the end of the first lap when leading, but the Heathens were in no mood to show mercy as they continued to clock up the maximum advantages.
And there was an indication of their team spirit in Heat 15 when Starke slowed on the last lap to allow Worrall through to complete a full 18-point maximum.
Worrall said: “It was good tonight, I’ve got something that works quite well around here, and it looks like Starkey has too!
“We’re feeling confident as a team and riding so often is really helping me as well. Hopefully we can carry it on, and I think I owe Starkey next week too, as he let me in for that last one!”
CRADLEY 65: Steve Worrall 18, Max Clegg 14+1, Paul Starke 13+2, Nathan Greaves 8+3, Matt Williamson 8+1, Danny Phillips 4+1, Tom Perry R/R. KENT 27: Simon Lambert 7, Ben Morley 6, David Mason 6, Luke Chessell 4+2, Luke Harris 3, Danny Ayres 1+1, Benji Compton R/R.
