HEATHENS pulled off the comeback of all comebacks to snatch all three points from a National League thriller against Hackney.

For much of the meeting the home side were up against it against the fast-starting visitors, who had a major weapon at reserve in Shane Hazelden.

With five races to go, Heathens trailed 26-34 – but they then hit the Hawks with three successive 5-1s, two of them involving their own reserve Darryl Ritchings, who enjoyed his best performance in the club’s colours.

A fourth 5-1 would have followed in Heat 14 but Ashley Morris cruelly ground to a halt on the final bend leaving Ritchings to win the race to protect what had become a four point lead.

Dudley needed another 5-1 from the last race to secure maximum points from the meeting – and they got it in dramatic fashion with the impressive Kyle Newman leading from the start, and skipper Jon Armstrong blasting around ex-Heathen Barrie Evans off the final bend to steal second place on the line.

Heathens club partner Gary Patchett said: “We had a talk with the boys at the interval, nobody was happy at that stage, and the response was absolutely remarkable. They pulled it out of the bag superbly, and it was great to see the fans’ reaction.

“We didn’t have a man of the match sponsor this time, but if we had then it would certainly have gone to Darryl Ritchings. His performance was vital, and I’m personally delighted for him.”

HEATHENS 49: Kyle Newman 13+1, Darryl Ritchings 11+1, Jon Armstrong 9+1, Tom Perry 6+2, Ashley Morris 5+1, Richard Franklin 4, Danny Stoneman 1+1.

HACKNEY 41: Shane Hazelden 16, Ben Morley 8+1, Barrie Evans 7+1, Ben Hopwood 5+2, David Mason 5, Brandon Freemantle 0, Marc Owen r/r.