STOKE took victory in the three-team tournament challenge at Loomer Road as they gained 27 points taking victory from the Crewe Kings who finished just 3 points behind on 24 with the Buxton Hitmen finishing on 21 points.

It was an entertaining meeting with some good racing but it was Kings rider Max Clegg who rode unbeaten throughout the night as he roared to a 12-point maximum.

Stoke opened with a 5-1 from Joe Lawlor who continued his double figures scoring and Tom Perry over the Hitmen’s Tom Woolley before Crewe gained a 4-2 over the home side in the following race as Clegg came from third to take victory on the line from Luke Priest. A 4-2 from the Hitmen over the Potters ensued in heat five as Shelby Rutherford took victory from Joe Alcock with Corban Pavitt third place. Connor Coles and Woolley took a maximum 5-1 in heat six for the Hitmen which gave Buxton the lead at the midway point of the meeting with the Hitmen on 14, Stoke on 12 and the Kings trailing on 10 points.

The Potters regained the lead with a 5-1 from Lawlor and Perry over Buxton pairing Rutherford and Pavitt and then the Kings did the same in heat nine as Clegg and Atkin took a 5-1 over Coles after Woolley had fallen and been disqualified. Lawlor and Perry took maximum points over the Kings pairing of Arran Butcher and William O’Keefe while the Crewe pairing of Clegg and Atkin combined for their second 5-1 of the evening over Rutherford and Pavitt. Buxton gained a 4-2 in the final heat as Coles stormed to victory over Priest with Woolley taking third place.

Potters top scorer Joe Lawlor commented “It was good to get the win tonight and I have a good partnership with Tom Perry who I’ve ridden with over the past couple of seasons’ he knows he can trust me and I know I can trust him and we did the job tonight along with Luke (Priest) and Joe (Alcock). For once in my life I’m actually enjoying racing, I rode in a meeting at Redcar last night and got three third places and even when I was last, I was still enjoying my racing. I’m not putting to much pressure on myself and thinking what will be will be and going out and enjoying myself and I think it’s helped me keep nice and calm on the track. I obviously get worked up just before a race but I don’t get to mad as I used to and I feel it’s paying dividends and that shows in my scoring.”

STOKE 27: Joe Lawlor 10+1, Tom Perry 8+3, Luke Priest 7, Joe Alcock 2
CREWE 24: Max Clegg 12, Tony Atkin 5+2, Arran Butcher 5+1, William O’Keefe 2
BUXTON 21: Shelby Rutherford 8, Connor Coles 7, Tom Woolley 4+1, Corban Pavitt 2