BUXTON Bulls are back in action this weekend when they make the trip to the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Sunday afternoon, 3 pm, when they face the Leicester Lion Cubs.

The Bulls lost out to the Lion Cubs 41-49 in the first leg of this NDL Challenge at Hi-Edge Raceway, and they will face a difficult task when they face the Lion Cubs around their home circuit.

The Bulls gained their first win of the season, defeating a Stoke Potters Select last Sunday, and they will be doing their best to get a result on what is a very different circuit to Hi-Edge.

The Derbyshire outfit will operate rider replacement for Jack Smith, meaning everyone is available to take his four rides, while in-form Ben Whalley comes in to replace Jamie Etherington, and Ryan Ashcroft comes into the side at reserve. The Bulls have named a number eight for the meeting in Joe Crewe.

Buxton team manager Laurence Rogers commented, “Jack (Smith) has informed me that his osteopath has told him that he needs to rest the ankle he hurt in last Sunday’s home win or else it may get worse, and we want him fit for the league campaign. This, therefore, means we will use the rider replacement facility to cover for him while Ben Whalley has accepted the invitation to guest for us.”

The vastly experienced Ben Morley leads the Lion Cubs, and he forms a formidable top three with Freddy Hodder and the in-form Ryan Ingram, who roared to a 15-point maximum in the British Under-21 semi-final at the same venue last week. Max Perry and Tom Spencer are solid scorers around their home circuit, and at reserve, Eli Meadows and Seth Norman complete the septet.

Rogers said, “Leicester are very strong around their home circuit, but we will look to put on a performance and look to continue the good work from last week’s meeting.

Alfie (Bowtell), Luke (Harris), Ben (Whalley) and Arran Butcher, who rode for the Lion Cubs last season, will hopefully get plenty of points between them, and Jack (Shimelt) got a solid score last Sunday, and that will help with his confidence. Hopefully, we will give the Lion Cubs something to think about.”

LEICESTER:
Ben Morley, Tom Spencer, Max Perry, Ryan Ingram, Freddy Hodder, Eli Meadows, Seth Norman.

BUXTON:
Alfie Bowtell, Arran Butcher, Luke Harris, Ben Whalley, Jack Smith R/R, Jack Shimelt, Ryan Ashcroft, Joe Crewe (No.8)