Heathens 55 Rye House 16 (after 12 heats) (From Halesowen News)

Heathens 55 Rye House 16 (after 12 heats)

10:06pm Tuesday 28th August 2012 in Local Sport

DUDLEY Heathens moved closer to the National League Leaders Trophy with a comfortable win over Rye House.

The hosts won all 12 heats before heavy rain brought an early end to proceedings at Monmore Green.

Skipper Adam Roynon was once more unbeaten in his three races while Darryl Ritchings rode to his first ever paid maximum.

Ben Morley was top scorer for the unlucky visitors, netting six points.

Victory over the Isle of Wight in seven days time will now make the Heathens place on top of the table unassailable and they will have their choice of play-off opponents.

And while nothing is a foregone conclusion in speedway, the former Cradley club racked up 60 points against the same opposition in the Knockout Cup so will head into the fixture big favourites.

Tonight’s meeting was about as one-sided as it gets in terms of points scoring and the only question was whether the rain, which began falling at the end of heat six, would thwart the hosts.

Rye House’s night looked bleak from the moment both Shane Hazelden and Luke Chessell fell in the first race and got little better, as engine trouble for Brad Tokley meant he failed to make the start of heat two.

Hazelden was lucky to escape injury after a nasty looking tangle with Dan Greenwood in heat three before former Heathen James Sargeant, perhaps looking to make up for lost ground, jumped the gate in heat four.

Around the slips and falls the Heathens progressed serenely on. Some superb tactical riding from Roynon and Ritchings in heat six saw them block out Sarjeant for a 5-1.

Ritchings was then the only man to stay upright following a three man collision in heat eight as the rain began to fall harder.

Perhaps the best ride of the night was saved till last as Byron Bekker, on an increasingly saturated track, held his nerve to pass Morley on the final lap of heat 12 to confirm the win and preserve the home side’s shutout.

Dudley 55: Byron Bekker 11+1, Darryl Ritchings 9+3, Adam Roynon 9, Ashley Morris 8+1, Tom Perry 8+1, Dan Greenwood 5+1, James White Williams 5+1

Rye House 16: Ben Morley 6, James Sarjeant 4, Shane Hazelden 3+1, Connor Coles 3, Luke Chessell 0, Brad Tokley 0, Jason Garrity R/R