Sittingbourne 39 Weymouth 55

SITTINGBOURNE AC Associate Crusaders went down to their second successive Speedway Conference League defeat at home to the Weymouth Wildcats on Sunday.

But the 39-55 scoreline flattered the visitors as the result threatened to be much closer for the bulk of the match. Indeed, after nine of the 15 heats, the Kent side trailed their illustrious opponents by just six points.

The impressive visitors included former Crusader David Mason and one-time Iwade trainee Lewis Bridger in their side, but Sittingbourne stayed in touch thanks chiefly to the efforts of skipper Chris Hunt and debutants Trevor Banks and Wayne Parker.

Hunt was gating superbly and though he found it tough to hold off the lightening fast trio of Mason, Bridger and the mercurial Welshman Tom Brown, he was easily a match for the others in the Dorset’s club’s line-up.

Similarly impressive was Banks, who was remarkably celebrating his return to League action after a 15-year break. The multi-British Grasstrack champion and World Long Track finalist won heat six with his new partner Parker (also returning to League action having last ridden in the early 90s) backing him up for a 5-1.

However, crucial falls when in scoring positions by the unlucky Mark Baseby and Andre Cross, and tapes offences by Banks and the struggling Daniel Blake, were to prove costly and eventually the title challengers from the south coast pulled away.

But not before the best race seen at the Sittingbourne circuit this year between Bridger and the Crusaders’ star young rider, Jordan Frampton. Their heat 14

Their heat 14 clash was a classic with Bridger finally passing the brave Frampton on the back straight of the final lap to bring the Old Gun Site crowd to its feet.

Next up for the AC Associates Crusaders is a trip to Buxton in pursuit of League points on Sunday.

Sittingbourne scorers: Chris Hunt 11; Trevor Banks 10; Jordan Frampton 7; Wayne Parker 5 + 1; Andre Cross 3 + 1; Mark Baseby 2 + 2; Dan Blake 1