DUDLEY Heathens stormed back from nine points down to record a sensational win in their first National League fixture of the season.


Skipper Adam Roynon swept to another immaculate maximum at the Norfolk Arena with Ashley Morris and Tom Perry both also scoring heavily as Heathens compensated for the early loss of the unlucky Byron Bekker.

Bekker fell in his first race and withdrew with a hand injury – and as both reserves had also come to grief in Heat 2 and Morris subsequently fell in Heat 4, the prospects did not look encouraging.

But after getting back into contention in Heat 7 with a 5-1 from Perry and Dan Greenwood, the meeting turned completely in the closing stages when Heathens secured back-to-back maximum advantages.

First Perry and Darryl Ritchings took full advantage of King’s Lynn’s Lewis Kerr crashing out of Heat 12, the Heathens duo getting the better of Scott Campos in the re-run, and then Roynon and Morris raced clear of home skipper James Cockle in Heat 13.

Ritchings importantly split Adam Lowe and Tom Stokes in Heat 14 to keep Heathens ahead into the decider, and the pressure was off when Cockle came to grief whilst chasing. Roynon and Morris then made no mistake at all in the re-run to secure a big three away points against a team tipped to be in and around the play-off battle this season.

Heathens boss Will Pottinger said: “It looked as though we’d have to settle for a point but the boys came into their own and did it when it mattered most.

“Adam underlined what a class act he is. He’s head and shoulders above anyone else in this league, nobody got near him. He is an inspirational figure at this level.

“Byron was advised to withdraw but we’re hopeful that after a few days rest he can rejoin the team on Tuesday for the home meeting against King’s Lynn.

“That one won’t be easy because we are without Tom who is racing in the Premier League, and we’re going to need all our supporters to really get behind us.”

KING’S LYNN 42: Tom Stokes 10, Scott Campos 9+2, James Cockle 8+1, Adam Lowe 8+1, Lewis Kerr 6+1, Jake Knight 1+1, Brendan Johnson R/R.

DUDLEY 47: Adam Roynon 15, Ashley Morris 10+2, Tom Perry 9+1, Dan Greenwood 7+1, Darryl Ritchings 5+1, James White-Williams 1+1, Byron Bekker 0.