Spirited Buxton Hitmen are beaten by Belle Vue Colts

The Hitmen got off to a reasonable start on the big National Speedway Stadium circuit with Ben Wilson taking the flag in the opening heat before the Colts went in front with a 5-1 in heat two from former Hitmen Paul Bowen and Kean Dicken over Corban Pavitt and Kieran Douglas, Kyle Bickley took the honours in the third heat with Tom Woolley and Connor Coles taking the minor placings for a drawn heat with Tom Perry and Dicken gaining a 4-2 over Coles in heat four giving the home side a 15-9 lead.

A further three 4-2 advantages and a 5-1 on the increasingly drying circuit left the Hitmen trailing 34-19 after nine races, the only respite for the Hitmen being a 3-2 heat advantage in heat seven as Woolley got the better of Bowen after both Coles and Perry had retired from the race.

Hitmen skipper Woolley took the chequered flag in heat ten from Ben Woodhull with Coles taking third for a 4-2, but the Colts stretched their lead with a further four 4-2 advantages and a 5-1 in the final race to take victory on the night.

Hitmen boss Joshua Moss said: “We battled hard especially early on in the meeting and it was only in the latter stages that Belle Vue pulled away from us to give them what looks a comfortable win in the end. The lads did not let their heads go down and battled on throughout and it showed the spirit in the camp is really good and we now turn our attention to the meeting on Sunday.”

BELLE VUE 57: Kyle Bickley 15, Tom Perry 11+1, Ben Woodhull 7+1, Paul Bowen 7, Kean Dicken 6+2, Jack Smith 6, Joe Lawlor 5

BUXTON 32: Tom Woolley 13, Ben Wilson 11, Connor Coles 6+1, Corban Pavitt 2, Lewis Whitmore 0, Kieran Douglas 0, James Cockle r/r