Post by miltonkeynescats on May 19, 2017 21:10:01 GMT
In what has certainly been a rollercoaster of a season, The Cats completed their escape from relegation with an away draw with Teesside. "Aside from a sublime start to the season, we've been in and around the relegation zone all year. In all honesty I thought we were a goner with the last couple of meetings left" said Cats boss Sean Wood.
After week 20's 48-42 victory over Tunstall the Cats were in 7th on 18 points, level with Rye Racers in 8th, but only ahead on points difference.
"I didn't hold out much hope at that point, we were effectively in the relegation zone as far as I was concerned. Especially when you factor in our two remaining meetings at that point, both away, to Rye themselves, and Teesside too."
However the script read differently. The Cats side went to Rye and stole a draw. or at least that's what it looks like on paper. "We were 8 points up on them. away from home. The fact that they needed 3 Tac subs speaks volumes. However they pegged us back, and ultimately deserved the point, and the bonus that went their way too." That same day saw Tunstall pick up an away win plus the bonus from a trip to Newmarket. Things turned again; "We went from 2 places above and 2 points clear of Tunstall to 1 place above on points difference and level on actual points."
So week 23 saw Milton Keynes travel the long road up to Teesside. "Once again we flew out of the gate and started well, we pulled to an 8 point lead after 10 races. Once again the home side needed Tac subs to pull it back, of sorts anyway, they only pulled back 2 via the substitutes, with Sepp Manzbach nullifying the first with a race win in heat 11 over true world star Bergestol. However pull it back they did, with 4-2s in 12 and 14 sandwiching a devastating 5-1 in heat 13." The Cats held on though, and Abe and Tibor filled in for a crucial 3-3 in heat 15. "We got another surprise away draw, and we picked up the bonus to go with it. We'd done just about all we could to secure UL survival, but other results needed to go our way."
And go Milton Keynes' way they did, with new champions Kings Lynn pegging Tunstall back to a 45-all draw. The Cats retained their UL status by 15 race points scored over the course of the season.
"I still can't quite believe it, I just didn't think it was meant to be, but we've managed it, we've survived. I had grander plans for our defence of the UL title, but after the season we've had, I think i'll take this! I'd like to offer sincere congratulations to new UL Champions Kings Lynn, they've been sublime this year after missing out the last couple of years. They deserve it."
The end of this season means next season will have something new in hand for Milton Keynes. "Next year will be our first ahead of Tunstall, we've been behind them pretty much throughout our time in Sim, obviously we won the UL last season, so we've finished above them in the league, but now we'll be a league above them too. I am in no doubt they'll be back, Steve is a talented manager, but after them making it to the PL before us, them making it to the UL before us, and them winning the UL before us, it's going to be a new experience being a league above! I wish them the best though."
After week 20's 48-42 victory over Tunstall the Cats were in 7th on 18 points, level with Rye Racers in 8th, but only ahead on points difference.
"I didn't hold out much hope at that point, we were effectively in the relegation zone as far as I was concerned. Especially when you factor in our two remaining meetings at that point, both away, to Rye themselves, and Teesside too."
However the script read differently. The Cats side went to Rye and stole a draw. or at least that's what it looks like on paper. "We were 8 points up on them. away from home. The fact that they needed 3 Tac subs speaks volumes. However they pegged us back, and ultimately deserved the point, and the bonus that went their way too." That same day saw Tunstall pick up an away win plus the bonus from a trip to Newmarket. Things turned again; "We went from 2 places above and 2 points clear of Tunstall to 1 place above on points difference and level on actual points."
So week 23 saw Milton Keynes travel the long road up to Teesside. "Once again we flew out of the gate and started well, we pulled to an 8 point lead after 10 races. Once again the home side needed Tac subs to pull it back, of sorts anyway, they only pulled back 2 via the substitutes, with Sepp Manzbach nullifying the first with a race win in heat 11 over true world star Bergestol. However pull it back they did, with 4-2s in 12 and 14 sandwiching a devastating 5-1 in heat 13." The Cats held on though, and Abe and Tibor filled in for a crucial 3-3 in heat 15. "We got another surprise away draw, and we picked up the bonus to go with it. We'd done just about all we could to secure UL survival, but other results needed to go our way."
And go Milton Keynes' way they did, with new champions Kings Lynn pegging Tunstall back to a 45-all draw. The Cats retained their UL status by 15 race points scored over the course of the season.
"I still can't quite believe it, I just didn't think it was meant to be, but we've managed it, we've survived. I had grander plans for our defence of the UL title, but after the season we've had, I think i'll take this! I'd like to offer sincere congratulations to new UL Champions Kings Lynn, they've been sublime this year after missing out the last couple of years. They deserve it."
The end of this season means next season will have something new in hand for Milton Keynes. "Next year will be our first ahead of Tunstall, we've been behind them pretty much throughout our time in Sim, obviously we won the UL last season, so we've finished above them in the league, but now we'll be a league above them too. I am in no doubt they'll be back, Steve is a talented manager, but after them making it to the PL before us, them making it to the UL before us, and them winning the UL before us, it's going to be a new experience being a league above! I wish them the best though."