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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2015 18:43:20 GMT
The local derby clash with the Maidstone Knights was an exciting affair for the fans as the meeting swayed like pendulum.
After a shared opening heat, Iwade looked set to give their neighbours a thrashing as they hit three consecutive 5-1's to lead by twelve after just four heats. Chad Wilkin and Brad Bouchard started the winning streak for the Spitfires, leaving Lee Jessup and Glyn Cox in their wake in the reserves heat. Heat three saw the visitors Alex Van Muarik take a tumble leaving the way clear for a Harkins/Strececz 5-1 and then the bad luck for the Knights continued as Michael Smith had engine problems, helping Iwade pair Cartwright and Bouchard on their way to a maximum.
The shell shocked Knights stopped the rot in the fifth taking a 2-4 advantage, with Maidstone number one Leighton helping his side with a heat win. Two shared heats followed before it was the Spitfires turn to have some bad luck, with Hamish Hamilton crashing out and finding himself excluded. This provided the perfect opportunity for Leighton to sheppard home Miller for a Knights 1-5 and bring them back into the meeting.
Heat nine was shared before an uncharacteristic last place for Iwade man Shields in the tenth saw Russell and Van Maurik hit another 1-5 for the visitors, closing the gap to just two points and giving the Maidstone fans hope of pulling off a great comeback victory.
The eleventh was shared before the pendulum swung back towards the Spitfires, as Strececz and Bouchard combined for a 5-1, swiftly followed by Cartwright/Shields maximum in the battle of the heat leaders, effectively winning the meeting for the home side who now led by ten.
The Knights refused to go quietly, with Smith and Russell storming to a 1-5 over Bouchard and Harkins before finishing with a 2-4 advantage in the final heat to give a respectable scoreline of 47-43 in favour of the home side.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2015 14:37:03 GMT
Iwades trip to the Bletchley Bengals proved to be a tense encounter with not much separating the sides throughout.
The Spitfires opened with a 2-4 advantage with Damien Shields taking the flag for the visitors before the Bengals hit back with a 4-2 of their own, as Adam Bridgett was first to the winning line. The home side moved ahead in the third taking another 4-2, this time it was Josh Pullen in first position.
Then followed a sequence of six consecutive shared heats, as neither side could grab an opportunity to stamp their authority upon the meeting, keeping Bletchley two points ahead with the last third of the meeting approaching.
The Bengals made a breakthrough in the tenth with Justin Ross and Mark Carrs combining well for a 5-1 advantage, to big cheers from the home faithful. The eleventh was shared before Matus Strececz managed to finish his poor meeting on a high, one wheeling over the line on his way to helping Iwade to a 2-4 and reducing the deficit to four.
The home fans were soon celebrating again however, as fine team riding from Ross and partner Brian Walton gave the Iwade pair of Shields and Cartwright no chance. The Bengals now led by eight, leaving the Spitfires needing two 1-5's to tie the meeting and hope for something to happen resulting in a 0-5 for an unlikely win.
Cartwright replaced Brad Bouchard in the fourteenth in a tactical move for Iwade and the move paid off handsomely, as he followed home partner Brett Harkins for the first 1-5 required.
With the final heat remaining, Iwade needed a 1-5 for the draw whilst the Bengals needed a 5-1 to take the bonus point to a run off, with the Spitfires leading 89-85 over the two meetings.
With Shields struggling for Iwade, Pearce put Harkins into the deep end with Cartwright to face Ross and Walton. Unfortunately for the young Scot, he missed the start and had to watch the race from the back, as Ross cleared off in front with Cartwright in pursuit and Walton looking to hunt down the Iwade Captain. The largest cheer of the meeting came when Walton's persistence paid off, causing Cartwright to run wide coming out of turn two on the last lap, allowing Walton to rocket past on the inside and give the Bengals the 5-1, setting up a thrilling bonus point run off.
Justin Ross and Mike Cartwright were the chosen ones and this time around, there was no mistakes from Cartwright, as the Iwade man made the start and held off the constant challenge of Ross, who hounded him relentlessly for four laps in an exciting finale. Both riders showed their appreciation of each other after the run off and both sets of fans had something to go away happy about.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2015 13:56:38 GMT
It was Kent v Essex as the Canvey Island Castaways made the short trip to the Aviators Arena, where the visiting number one Des Dixon put in a fine display in what was an exciting meeting for the fans.
In a shared first heat won by home favourite Damien Shields, the aforementioned Dixon showed little sign of what was to come as he came in third to pick up a point.
Hamish Hamilton in his new position at reserve, blasted his way to victory in the second in a home 4-2, as he looks to regain his place back in the main body of the team, which could work out well for the Spitfires. The Spitfires moved further ahead with another 4-2 in the third which was followed by a 3-3 to leave Iwade up by four.
In the fifth, Dixon began his personal assault on the Spitfires, taking the win in 2-4 advantage for the Castaways to keep things interesting. This though was followed by a home 5-1, as Shields was followed home by Hamilton, who was in to replace the frustrated Bouchard who had been excluded for a tapes offence.
The visitors hit back with a Rhodri Szczygiel led 2-4, reducing the deficit to four before the earlier frustrated Bouchard took the win in the eighth, followed by Hamilton for another 5-1 and an Iwade lead of eight.
Two shared heats followed, the first of which was won by the now flawless Dixon who tactically replaced Noone. He was back out two heats later for another fine win to help Canvey to a 2-4 to reduce the gap between the sides to six.
Matus Strececz and Hamilton came out in heat twelve and put in a fine display of team riding for a 5-1 and looked to be taking the Spitfires on to a comfortable win, with the bonus point also looking a reality.
Once again, Dixon had other ideas and he and team mate Jazz Tank showed some excellent team riding of their own for a fine 1-5 to put some doubt into the minds of the home side. This was followed by another advantage in the fourteenth heat, this time Jess DeVeau was the victor in a 2-4, bringing the Castaways within four points of Iwade, with a draw and the bonus point firmly in their sights.
In the final heat, it was Dixon who made the start once again but he had no time to hang around for his team mate, as Mike Cartwright and Shields were all over him like a rash, leaving him no choice but to get his head down and go for the win. The resulting 3-3 gave victory to the Spitfires but left the bonus point needing a ride off to be decided.
Shields was the man given the tough task of trying to beat Dixon for the bonus, which turned out to be just as tough as expected, as Dixon made the start again and rode excellently to keep the pursuing Spitfire behind him.
Final Score: Iwade Spitfires 47-43 Canvey Island Castaways.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2015 22:56:41 GMT
The Spitfires missed the chance to snatch a first away win of the season as the Falcons produced the goods at Falmouth.
The home side started strongly, with a Burrows/Harrison 5-1 opener followed by a 4-2 in the second as the Falcons looked to set the tone. Iwade then stunned Falmouth with consecutive 1-5's, firstly with Harkins and Strececz and then Hamilton and Cartwright turning the meeting around in a swift response.
The fifth was shared before another Falmouth 5-1 swung the meeting back in their favour, with Burrows and Harrison combining well again. Not to be outdone, this frenetic meeting immediately went back into the control of the visitors, as the Spitfires Strececz and Harkins hit their second 1-5 before a Bouchard led 2-4 put them up by four.
Major and Craven wiped out Iwade's lead to level the scores with a 5-1 in the ninth heat before the tenth was shared. Shields and Bouchard kept the pattern flowing with a 1-5 for the Spitfires to put them back in charge as the meeting entered it's final stages.
Craven led a home 4-2 to reduce the deficit to two points, a deficit that would remain until the final heat as heats thirteen and fourteen finished all square.
On the verge of an away win, the nerves got the better of the Spitfires duo Shields and Harkins and they missed the gate, leaving them with a tough chase if they were to get the win they craved. In his desperation, Harkins ended up crashing out when trying too hard and the chance was gone, as Major and Burrows won the meeting.
The Spitfires were able to claim some consolation however, as the Falcons 5-1 in the final heat left the aggregate scores level. Shields made no mistake from the gate this time and he held off the challenge of Burrows to give the Spitfires the bonus point.
Final Score: Falmouth Falcons 46-44 Iwade Spitfires
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