BUXTON ‘Ductair’ Bulls were thrashed 61-29 by the Leicester Lion Cubs at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park in the WSRA National Development League on Sunday afternoon.

Bulls’ number one Alfie Bowtell took victory in the opening heat over Ben Morley and Tom Spencer before the Lion Cubs took charge of the meeting in the following heat with a 4-2 heat advantage from Seth Norman and Eli Meadows, with Bulls rider Jack Roberts splitting the home pairing, followed by a 5-1 from Freddy Hodder and Ryan Ingram.

A drawn heat in heat four with Hodder taking the chequered flag ahead of Jack Smith and Roberts, which left the Bulls trailing 15-9 but still in the meeting.

The home side then delivered a devastating run of four 5-1 heat advantages and two 4-2’s to give the Lion Cubs a 43-17 lead after ten heats as they confirmed victory with five races remaining.

Bowtell took victory in heat eleven after suffering an engine failure in his second ride to stem the tide, but it was short-lived as the Bulls suffered a 4-2 reverse as Ingram and Norman combined to get the heat win with Luke Harris managing to split the home pairing.

A further couple of 4-2’s for the home side, Bowtell finishing second in heat thirteen and Arran Butcher in heat fourteen, as the Bulls riders kept battling, and the final race saw a drawn heat as Morley took victory for the home side with Smith and Bowtell taking the minor placings.

Bulls team manager Laurence Rogers commented, “It was a tough day at the office for us today against a very good side that are likely to be unbeaten around their own circuit this season.

“We suffered a few issues in the meeting with Alfie Bowtell, who had a chain jump off in heat six, and Jack Roberts blew an engine just when he was starting to get going, and this limited his scoring.

“Obviously, we are disappointed by the scoreline, but we have to admit that Leicester were the better side on the day.”

LEICESTER LION CUBS 61:
Ben Morley 12, Tom Spencer 9+5, Max Perry R/R, Ryan Ingram 14+1, Freddy Hodder 14, Eli Meadows 4+1, Seth Norman 8

BUXTON 29:
Alfie Bowtell 9+1, Jack Shimelt 1, Luke Harris 6, Arran Butcher 2, Jack Smith 7, Ryan Ashcroft 0, Jack Roberts 4+1