HEATHENS boss Will Pottinger hailed a “sensational” display from Drew Kemp as they beat local rivals Birmingham.
The home side romped to a 52-37 win over the Brummies in a clash marred by a horror Heat 4 crash which ruled out Chris Widman and Danyon Hume.
Widman and Hume tangled on the home straight and ploughed through the airfence. Hume aggravated an old arm injury and pulled out of the meeting.
James Shanes and Tom Bacon scored 27 between them for the Brummies but Kemp reeled off an incredible paid 17 for the Heathens.
Pottinger said: “Drew was sensational. Obviously we took control after they lost Danyon and we hope both he and Chris are OK.
“But Drew was out of this world and was the stand out performance for us. All the boys chipped in and we were solid.
“Losing Chris was tough but with Drew in such great form we coped really well with his absence and it’s a good win.”
Bacon and Shanes were outstanding for the Brummies as they kept the visitors in contention despite the setback of losing Hume.
Flying Bacon won Heat 1 in style from Cradley guest Danny Ayres but the home side took control when the classy young 15-year-old Kemp won Heat 2 and with Widman second, the Heathens were four in front.
The much-awaited clash “war of the wonderkids” never materialised with Shanes roaring clear in Heat 3 with Bickley left at the back behind rival Flint.
Then came the horror incident in Heat 4 followed by a repair to the airfence and from then on it was the Bacon and Shanes show.
However, when they weren’t in the line-up Brummies were vulnerable and three maximum 5-1s from the rampant Heathens in six races left them reeling.
CRADLEY 52: Drew Kemp 16+1, Alfie Bowtell 10+4, Danny Ayres 10+1, Jason Edwards 8+2, Kyle Bickley 6+1, Chris Widman 2+1, Bradley Andrews r/r.
BIRMINGHAM 37: James Shanes 15, Tom Bacon 12, Leon Flint 4, Tom Spencer 4, Callum Walker 2, Arran Butcher 0, Danyon Hume 0.
