Isle of Wight 29 Heathens 61 (From Halesowen News)

Isle of Wight 29 Heathens 61

10:32pm Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Local Sport

DUDLEY Heathens underlined their National League title credentials with an emphatic 61-29 victory at the Isle of Wight on Tuesday.

It was a ninth straight league win for the rampant former Cradley club, and it came at a venue where many were expecting them to receive one of their toughest tests of the season.

But with skipper Adam Roynon again immaculate – and adding another track record to his growing collection – and the whole team chipping in with points, Heathens topped the 60-point mark for the second time on the road this season.

The only setback was a mechanical failure for Ashley Morris in Heat 4, but he recovered to win his second outing as a succession of advantages saw the Heathens race into a 31-11 lead after seven races– with both of the Islanders’ tactical rides going to waste with Danny Warwick and Mark Baseby trailing in third.

It took until Heat 8 for the home side to record a race win, that going to Ben Hopwood, and their sole advantage came in the next heat with a 4-2.

But Heathens were straight back in charge with Tom Perry and Byron Bekker carding the third of four 5-1s together, Roynon racing to his record-breaking Heat 11 win and also teaming up with Morris in Heat 13.

The 61-point total was completed by more maximum points from Bekker and Perry in Heat 15, as the Heathens opened up a six point lead at the top of the table.

Boss Will Pottinger said: “I’m delighted with that performance from the lads. Every one of them were superb, and Adam was in a different class and achieved another track record despite having a bike problem!

“Stoke and Mildenhall in August are going to be tough tests, but we can’t wait for those meetings now.”

ISLE OF WIGHT 29: Kyle Hughes 10, Ben Hopwood 6, Paul Starke 4+1, Mark Baseby 4, Adam Ellis 2, Danny Warwick 2, Aaron Baseby 1.

DUDLEY 61: Tom Perry 14, Adam Roynon 12, Byron Bekker 10+4, James White Williams 9+1, Ashley Morris 7+1, Darryl Ritchings 5+3, Dan Greenwood 4+1.