STOKE’S hopes of reaching the National League KO Cup final were left in tatters as the Leicester Lion Cubs gained a 54-36 victory over the Potters at Loomer Road on Saturday night.

Potters team manager Adam Isherwood said “We were simply beaten by a better team on the night. The track was good with Ellis Perks clocking the four fastest times of the season around here and they had a team which there was simply no weakness in it was strong right the way through. For us only Joe Lawlor was on song as he top scored with 14-points and now we have to go to Leicester tomorrow and ride for some pride.”

The Lion Cubs roared into a 16-8 lead after four races before the Potters gained a 4-2 in heat five from Lawlor and Luke Priest to reduce the deficit for the home side.

Leicester then gained successive heat wins in heats seven and eight to extend their lead to 12-points as the Potters trailed 30-18.
Another two 5-1 heat advantages gave the Lions Cubs a comfortable victory before Lawlor and Tom Perry rounded off the evening with a 4-2 in the final heat.

NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg
STOKE 36: Joe Lawlor 14, Tom Perry 8, Luke Priest 5+1, Shelby Rutherford 3+1, Connor Coles 3, Kieran Douglas 3, Kean Dicken 0.
LEICESTER 54: Ellis Perks 17, Matt Marson 11+1, Danyon Hume 9+2, Dan Thompson 8+2, Ryan Terry-Daley 6+1, Ryan MacDonald 3+2, Joe Thompson r/r.