CRADLEY got their 2016 National League campaign off to a winning start as they beat Belle Vue 51-39.

The Motor Market Heathens picked up their first three league points of the year in front of a bumper crowd on a successful return to Monmore Green.

Team manager Will Pottinger was pleased with his side's performance and was quick to pay tribute to the Wolverhampton track staff.

Said Pottinger: "We have to applaud everyone who worked tirelessly to ensure tonight's meeting went ahead and it has to be said, they did a cracking job.

"They created an excellent racing surface and huge credit to them after all the rain we've had over the past few days.

"A winning start was always the aim for us and it certainly settles the nerves.

"We won't get carried away with the result and we won't read too much into it because there's obviously a long, long way to go.

"It was a mixed night score wise for the lads individually but it's important to remember this is only the first meeting and I felt there were plenty of encouraging signs that bode well for the rest of the season.

"We'll definitely take the positives and the confidence that the win has given us a group but there's also things we can work on for when Rye House visit in a fortnight's time."

Top two Max Clegg and Ashley Morris both lived up to expectation as they went unbeaten by an opposition rider while Luke Chessell dropped just one point on his return to the Heathens side.

Ben Basford and James Purchase both enjoyed encouraging debuts with the pair combining for an important 5-1 in heat eight.

Bradley Andrews and Jack Kingston both had tough openers on a night where they fell on five occasions between them but at the same time showed glances of their potential.

CRADLEY 51: Max Clegg 15, Ashley Morris 13+2, Luke Chessell 11, Ben Basford 5+1, James Purchase 5, Jack Kingston 1, Bradley Andrews 1.

BELLE VUE 39: Dan Bewley 11+1, Rob Shuttleworth 8+1, Matt Williamson 8, Lee Payne 4, Andy Mellish 3+2, Tom Woolley 3+2, David Holt 2.