Classy Lion Cubs tame Tigers
THE LEICESTER Lion Cubs took their second win of 2025 with an emphatic 34-56 away win against the Middlesbrough Tigers in the WSRA National League. The currently undefeated Lion Cubs were led brilliantly by their hotshot reserve Cooper Rushen who struck a 17+1 paid maximum whilst Tom Spencer hit a valiant nine for the Tigers.
The Lion Cubs number one Ben Trigger began proceedings with a tapes to flag win at his former home track despite strong pressure from Ace Pijper, but with Lion Cubs guest Harry Fletcher at the back, the opening heat was shared.
Heat two saw the majestic Rushen begin with a serene win, and with Ryan Ingram 2nd, Leicester hit the front after two heats on Teesside.
Heat three began positively for the Tigers with Spencer first, and with Kai Ward 2nd, the hosts looked set to level. However, Ward was passed by Max Perry and then fell on lap three, meaning Middlesbrough remained four adrift at 7-11.
Leicester then doubled their early advantage in heat four, but not after a restart. The original staging saw Danny Phillips gate well but the referee deemed Phillips was moving at the start and ordered a re-run with the captain of the Tigers issued with a warning. The re-run saw Rushen win again, and with Max James 2nd, Leicester were in command.
After a pair of shared races won by Trigger and James, Leicester struck their 3rd heat advantage as Max Perry won, and with Sonny Springer passing Phillips for 3rd, Middlesbrough were struggling against the reigning league champions.
Rushen continued his sublime showing with another win in a shared heat eight, but the “Heat Floors” Tigers powered by “STS” hit back with a superb heat nine 5-1. Tom Spencer continued his upwards trajectory with an impressive tapes to flag win, and with Ward in an equally impressive 2nd, Middlesbrough were within six of Leicester.
Following Ace Pijper’s opening win of the meeting in a shared heat 10, the Lion Cubs took a huge stride towards victory in heat 11 as Trigger won, and with Rushen joining Trigger at the front after battling past Phillips, the visitors restored their double digit advantage.
Leicester moved to the brink of victory in heat 12 as Perry held off Ward, and with Ingram also keeping Rathbone at the rear, the visitors were in cruise control. After Trigger withdrew through injury, Rushen replaced the ex-Tiger in heat 13, and with Rushen winning yet again alongside James in 2nd, Leicester wrapped up the win with two heats remaining.
Springer wrapped up his afternoon’s work with a heat 14 win, and with Ingram 3rd, Leicester recorded their 7th heat advantage. The final heat saw another Rushen win, and another Lion Cubs 5-1 as Perry took 2nd to send the Lion Cubs fans home happy.
Middlesbrough Tigers = 34
1. Ace Pijper = 7
2. Jamie Halder = 3+3
3. Kai Ward = 5+2
4. Tom Spencer = 9
5. Danny Phillips = 3
6. Stene Pijper = 4
7. Ben Rathbone = 3
Leicester Lion Cubs = 56
1. Ben Trigger = 9
2. Harry Fletcher (G) = 0
3. Max Perry = 11+2
4. Sonny Springer = 7+1
5. Max James = 8+2
6. Ryan Ingram = 4+17. Cooper Rushen = 17+1 (Paid Max)