Four points is the margin needed to be caught up as the National League Play Off semi-final resumes at Central Park this evening (Monday 7/10). Kent TouchTec Kings take on Belle Vue Colts looking to reach the title-deciding P/O Final for a first ever time, trailing 43-47 from last Friday’s First Leg.
First blood then to the Manchester side - though there’s optimism in the Kings’ camp that having restricted the often rampant at home Colts to just a four points lead at this halfway point of the tie, that the job can be completed at Central Park. Having said that, the score when Belle Vue visited last month in the NL proper was, wait for it, 47-43 to Kent so it can safely be said – without fear of being accused to trawling out old clichés – that this one really is too close to call!
Both teams have clean bills of health and are at full strength for the most important match of the season and arguably, as the Kent team have all year been focused on the task of getting to the P/O Final, the most important single meeting in the seven seasons Speedway has been staged at Central Park.
Youngster Jake Mulford contributed ably to the first leg result with a stirring ride to help secure a vital race points advantage in heat 12 up at the National Speedway Stadium, when he ran the Colts' skipper former British & World Youth Champion Kyle Bickley mighty close and he warmed up for Monday by emerging triumphant in the 250cc class in the big Grasstrack meeting held in Frittenden on Sunday.
Teams [in alphabetical order] are:
Belle Vue Colts Connor Bailey; Kyle Bickley; Leon Flint; Jordan Palin ; Danny Phillips ; Ben Rathbone ; Ben Woodhull
Kent TouchTec Kings Dan Gilkes; Jordan Jenkins ; Drew Kemp ; Rob Ledwith ; Jake Mulford ; Anders Rowe ; Alex Spooner
Gates open at 5pm with a bumper crowd expected and tapes are up for the start of the action at 6.30pm.