Classy Lion Cubs claim win!
LEICESTER Lion Cubs took a hard fought 51-38 WSRA National Development League win over a depleted Middlesbrough “Heat Floors” Tigers side on home shale. Ben Trigger hit paid 16 for the hosts whilst Ace Pijper (15) and Jamie Halder (12) impressed for the Tigers.
The Tigers, who remain 2nd bottom, were once again without Tom Spencer who has not recovered fully from a shoulder injury with two meetings in two days proving to be too much for the Middlesbrough heat leader.
Cooper Rushen opened his account for the afternoon with a win, but with his partner, Calum Mitchell at the back, it was a share of the spoils in the opening race. After a shared heat two won by Lion Cubs reserve Ryan Ingram, the Tigers took the lead as Halder won, and with Stene Pijper 3rd, the visitors were in the ascendency.
However, the hosts hit back in heat four but not after some drama. The original staging saw Elliot Kelly hit the deck, with Eli Meadows laying down his machine to avoid the Middlesbrough man. The re-run saw ex-Tiger Ben Trigger win, and with Meadows 3rd, Leicester were back level.
After a pair of shared races won by Ace Pijper and Cooper Rushen respectively, the reigning league champions took the lead for the first time in heat seven. Trigger took his second race win from two outings, and with Ingram 3rd, the Lion Cubs had a lead to hold onto.
Heat eight saw Leicester double their lead as the Lion Cubs’ impressive reserve Ingram won, and with Meadows getting the better of Kelly, the hosts had the momentum at the Hydroscand Arena.
Heat nine was an elongated affair with no less than five re-runs. The marathon came to an end with a match race as 2024 Bear Ben Trigger got the better of 2025 Bear Ace Pijper to extend Leicester’s lead to five points.
Heat 10 saw disaster strike for Stene Pijper who crashed with a suspected wrist injury and was withdrawn. The re-run saw Rushen win with Mitchell 3rd as Jamie Halder split the Leicester duo, but it was the 4th heat advantage on the spin for the Lion Cubs.
Four became five as Trigger continued his unblemished afternoon with a heat 11 win, and with Ryan Ingram 3rd, Leicester had a nine point advantage as they closed in on victory.
Three points were secured for the hosts in heat 12 as Ingram continued his red-hot form to win, and with Meadows getting the better of Charlie Southwick, the Lion Cubs kept their flickering league championship hopes alive.
Ace Pijper lowered the colours of both Rushen and Trigger as he stormed to a heat 13 win, but with Shimelt 4th, the hosts retained their handsome 13 point lead.
After Halder continued his impressive afternoon with a heat 14 win, Ace Pijper repeated his heat 13 trick in the final race to beat Rushen and Trigger again, but with Halder finishing 4th, he was unable to follow up his heat 14 success with Leicester securing a 51-38 win.
The win for the hosts means they move to within four points of the Oxford Chargers at the top of the table with the Lion Cubs having one match in hand on the Chargers.
Leicester Lion Cubs
- Cooper Rushen = 13
- Calum Mitchell = 1
- Rider Replacement for Max Perry
- Harry Fletcher (G) = 6
- Ben Trigger = 14+2
- Ryan Ingram = 12+1
- Eli Meadows = 5+2
Middlesbrough “Heat Floors” Tigers
- Ace Pijper = 15
- Elliot Kelly = 1+1
- Stene Pijper = 1 (Withdrawn)
- Jamie Halder = 12
- Rider Replacement for Tom Spencer
- Jack Shimelt (G) = 2+2
- Charlie Southwick = 7