HEATHENS missed out on a Cup Final place but maintained their unbeaten home record with an exciting 47-43 win over Stoke at their adopted ‘Monmore Wood’ home on Tuesday.
Once again the racing was entertaining for a bumper Monmore crowd with Heathens fans out in force despite the hefty 30-point deficit from the first leg of the Knockout Cup Semi-Final.
Kyle Newman was impressive for the former Cradley club with 14 in a solid all-round display, but they also wasted points early on.
Heathens trailed for much of the meeting but went into Heat 15 with a two-point lead and secured a win on the night with Newman leading the way over Simon Lambert and Ashley Morris.
Dudley boss Will Pottinger said: “Obviously I’m disappointed we didn’t pull it off on aggregate but we needed a good start and when we lost a 5-1 in the first heat it hurt us.
“But I’m proud of all the lads because they have given everything they’ve got and we have pulled off a win on the night.
“On reflection the damage was done in the first leg when we had a nightmare up at Stoke, we were always going to be up against it.
“But we’re still unbeaten at home and the fans were brilliant tonight. I can’t thank them enough and there was some fabulous racing out there.
“I would also like to congratulate Stoke who were the better side over two legs but we are already looking forward to taking them on in the league later in the season.”
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI-FINAL, 2nd leg DUDLEY 47: Kyle Newman 14, Ashley Morris 7, Jon Armstrong 6+2, Tom Perry 6+1, Richard Franklin 6, Darryl Ritchings 4+1, Danny Stoneman 4.
STOKE 43: Simon Lambert 12+1, Tony Atkin 9, Jaimie Pickard 8+1, James Sarjeant 8+1, Gareth Isherwood 4+2, Tim Webster 1, Ben Reade 1.
