DUDLEY Heathens retained the National Shield for the third straight season with a 51-39 victory over rivals Mildenhall in the second leg at Monmore Wood.
Carrying a four point lead from the first leg at West Row, the former Cradley club made a slow start with several mistakes pegging them back.
Yet as the meeting wore on their class shone through - with back to back 5-1s in heats 11 and 12 proving decisive. And team boss Will Pottinger was pleased to see his side lift the Shield once again.
He said: "It's the third successive season where we've won the National Shield, so it's a really pleasing result against a strong Mildenhall side.
"After a difficult start the lads rode really well in the end, and I'm really pleased with the team performance."
Lewis Blackbird continued his sparkling form against his former club - while Paul Starke and guesting No.1 Robert Branford provided able support.
Reserves Max Clegg and Nathan Greaves both shone to score paid nine and paid eight respectively with some exciting overtaking needed to earn those scores.
Gareth Isherwood bounced back from a heat one fall to make another vital contribution, whilst Dan Greenwood picked himself up from a nasty crash of his own in his opening ride to complete a well-rounded team performance.
DUDLEY: Lewis Blackbird 13+1, Paul Starke 9, Max Clegg 7+2, Gareth Isherwood 7, Robert Branford 6+1, Nathan Greaves 5+3, Dan Greenwood 4+1.
MILDENHALL: Jon Armstrong 13, Stefan Nielsen 8+2, Aaron Baseby 8+1, Daniel Halsey 5, Liam Rumsey 4+1, Nathan Stoneman 1+1, Josh Bates R/R. Dudley win on aggregate 96-80.
