HORNETS 53 ISLE OF WIGHT 40

(IoW win 96-91 on aggregate)

NEWPORT Drillerman Hornets so nearly made a remarkable recovery from an 18-point deficit, but eventually slipped out of the National League KO Cup at a windy Queensway Meadows Stadium.

The Hornets made a real fist of it and it has to be said that they were only beaten by mechanical gremlins and the use of the increasingly unpopular tactical rule whereby a winning rider doubles his heat points.

Having begun 58-36 from last Tuesday’s first leg, the Hornets were written off by almost everyone beforehand.

Yet by the completion of race six they were well on top at 24-12 – despite race retirements for David Gough and James White-Williams when in points-scoring positions.

Then came Lee Smethills’ tactical win which produced a 7-2 heat win for the visitors. There are many in the sport who hold the opinion that the rule offers too much reward to a team that is losing a meeting.

The Hornets battled on, albeit with Tom Young also falling foul of engine problems when poised to score, and at the end of the 12 had reduced the aggregate arrears to just five points – with still three heats remaining.

And when Todd Kurtz and Jay Herne led race 13, it appeared a famous comeback was about to take place.

However, Lady Luck kicked Kurtz where it hurts most, in the engine department, and when Herne was later overtaken, the visitors had turned things right around to post a highly unlikely 5-1 maximum.

The Hornets finished off with a couple of 4-2 heats wins, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough – although it was most certainly a case of E for effort on their behalf.

There were solid performances from all Hornets riders and in particular by Matthew Bates, who caught the eye by excelling throughout.

The outcome was the Hornets’ second successive home win, and they will bid for a hat trick when they host Mildenhall Tigers in an NL fixture on spring bank holiday Monday, May 30 – tapes up at 2.30pm.

Newport Hornets 53: 1 – Jay Herne (c) 9+2(7); 2 – Tom Young 7(4); 3 – James White-Williams 7+1(4); 4 – Matthew Bates 12+1(5); 5 – Todd Kurtz 8(4); 6 David Gough 1(4); 7 – Richard Andrews 9+2(5).

IoW Islanders 40: 1 – Paul Starke 8(5); Rob Smith 4+1(4); 3 – Lee Smethills 10+1(4); 4 – Brendan Johnson 6(4); 5 – Nick Simmons (c) 7+1(5); 6 – Luke Chessell 4(4); 7 – John Resch 1(4).

- The Hornets’ NL clash at defending champions Bux-ton Hitmen yesterday was postponed due to heavy rain.

- The first of six qualifying rounds of the British Youth Championships produced winners in three different categories at the Queensway Meadows Stadium, home of Newport Speedway, yesterday. The 500cc class was won by Nathan Stoneman, of Tiverton. The 250cc title went to Nathan Greaves, of Chesterfield, while Exeter’s Henry Atkins emerged victorious in the 125cc event.