BUXTON put in a spirited display but unfortunately ran out of steam as Kent took victory over the Hitmen by 40-49 in the Travel Plus National League at Hi-Edge Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The Hitmen were dealt a blow before the start of the second meeting of the afternoon against Kent with the news that Connor Coles had broken his wrist in his last ride fall in the win over Plymouth resulting in Plymouth’s Richard Andrews guesting for the Hitmen.

Buxton fell behind in the second heat with a fortunate 5-1 for the Kings from Alex Spooner and Jamie Couzins who took advantage of Corban Pavitt falling while in the lead comfortably, The Hitmen hit-back immediately with a 5-1 of their own from Richard Andrews and Tom Woolley over Taylor Hampshire to level the scores, following on with a 4-2 from Ben Wilson and Pavitt over Jack Thomas to put the Hitmen in front 13-11 after four heats. The Hitmen continued to put the pressure on the Kings extending their lead to six points as Woolley and Andrews took maximum points over Anders Rowe. Kent gained a 3-2 advantage to pull a point back Jamie Couzins taking the chequered flag head of Ben Wilson with Lewis Whitmore having retired from the race after falling and Jack Thomas also falling on the last lap, but was disqualified by referee who deemed he had been lapped. Andrews and Kieran Douglas took a 4-2 in the next race to extend the home sides lead to seven points with the Hitmen leading 24-17 at the midway point of the meeting.

Kent’s Rowe showed his liking for the Hi-Edge track as he took an easy win in heat eight, Pavitt taking second splitting the Kings pairing with a superb pass relegating Spooner to third place and reducing the Hitmen lead to five points. The Kings reduced the Hitmen’s lead further with a 4-2 from Nathan Stoneman and Hampshire over Wilson with Buxton holding a slender three point lead and this was the start of a resurgent Kings as they then took three 4-2 advantages and a 5-1 to take victory with one race to spare as they lead 38-45 going into the final race and the Kings completed proceedings with a 4-2.

Buxton team manager Joshua Moss commented “It was great to get our first win of the season in the first meeting this afternoon against Plymouth where all the lads Chipping in with points and Tom Woolley getting a paid maximum along with Ben Wilson and Connor Coles scoring double figures also.

"It was disappointing to lose the second meeting but the lads all tried their best and pushed Kent all the way, but in the end we just ran out of steam and they got the victory. I would like to thank Richard Andrews for stepping in for Connor Coles at the last minute after Connor sustained a broken wrist in the first meeting.”

BUXTON: 40: Tom Woolley 12+2, Richard Andrews 12, Ben Wilson 11, Corban Pavitt 3, Kieran Douglas 2, Lewis Whitmore 0, James Cockle R/R
KENT 49: Jack Thomas 11, Anders Rowe 9, Nathan Stoneman 9, Jamie Couzins 6+1 Alex Spooner 5, Taylor Hampshire 5, Kyle Bickley 4+2