Centurions vs Leicester 27 May

[greenshank52]

Another great nights entertainment at the 'Colliseum', my thoughts earlier in the day were a 'Lion Cubs' win, so it was good to see the 'Centurions' keeping it close for the first 6 heats. After which unfortunately the 'Cubs' stretched their legs, the 10 point loss as always doesn't tell the whole story of the nights entertainment though. Once again yet another fantastic programme, which was a bit of a Ben Trigger edition, quite right as it turned out as he was easily the rider of the night, doubling his average on the night, it's quite unusual for a reserve to get an outing in heat 15, but it was a just reward for his stylish efforts. Also a big well done to Ben Phillips for plugging away and just falling short of Henry Atkins average.
As always thanks go to all the workers and volunteers and last but not least all the riders.

[countygroundfalcon]

On his Facebook page he says he does have another team but cannot announce it before he has been released by Plymouth. I have a feeling that he has signed for Oxford!

[krissy]

I think they all did a remarkable job considering the circumstances. Adam at number 5 is tough going, he stated himself in the interview on the centre green that he’s been on his bike 4 times. That’s not 4 times this year, he didn’t ride last year. Or the year before. AND ended the last season he rode on a nasty crash.

Rich, Connor, Eli etc…. Not had much track time or racing this season. All far more capable than their points showed last night.
Couple that with The Thompson Twins who have raced tonnes both this season and last. In the championship and the NL.

Mattie has clearly already stated more than once that there are no riders out there.

Leicester are a strong unit.
To only lose by 10, considering alllll the above and even more that we as supporters don’t know about probably, is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

They kept going, they got back on their bikes and got their third place, they tried. And for a league that is about development, you really can’t ask for more.
Well done lads, excellent job. Every single one of you.

[pitgate]

Lion Cubs take the points.
May 24, 2022
The Leicester Lion Cubs took all of the league points with a 40-50 victory over the SWRT Centurions, in another action packed night at The Coliseum.

Despite the best efforts of reserve Ben Trigger with 13, and Alfie Bowtell, in as a guest for the injured Dan Gilkes with 11, the strength in depth of the Lion Cubs proved just much.

Full Report to follow.

[mike]

Unfortunately I don’t think Eli will get much better he nearly got lapped last night

[greenlander]

To be fair he had just slid off his bike and that gives you around 12-15 seconds to get going again.

He could have just wheeled it to the centre green.

[greenlander]

There's a theory I read recently about organised, lower-level sport in that it exists primarily to give those that are going to make it somewhere to start and that for every one that does you need those dozens of others to act as teammates and opposition.

They are huge part of the cost of bringing through that talent but they are also the collateral of that process. But without them it's harder for those that do to make it. They deliver that reward. And it's those you have to keep onside. Alfie (and Dan G before his injury) are not only showing the potential, but delivering the results to go further, but that development requires Richie, Adam, Connor and Eli to do what they do. To turn up, race laps, fall off and do it again week after week. And I'll say it, sometimes act as cannon fodder. But it is what it is, they can't all be the next GP champion and you know what maybe not all of them want it (Tony Atkin and Jon Armstrong seemed more than happy to race on for years while the young bucks sped past them) but they can teach those that are destined something along the way.

And Mark and Mattie can shoot me down but since their announcement my belief is that's exactly what the Centurions are about. Bring through Dan (and originally Henry), develop Ben into a top class rider.

For me, Gladiators are about the results and the entertainment, Centurions to watch the next generation get there.

[mike]

Fair point well made my last post was to harsh and I apologise for it

[greenlander]

May 25, 2022 12:33:43 GMT mike said:

Fair point well made my last post was to harsh and I apologise for it

No offence from me, it's just that if this was the higher level he'd probably have stayed down and let it go to a rerun. It's a credit to him that he got back up, got back on even if it meant a '0' on the scoreboard rather than 'F/X'.

And you're right, he might have found his level but that's the way it has to work. For Ben to make that leap we need Eli in that team. 
 

[iand]

May 25, 2022 11:09:46 GMT greenlander said:

There's a theory I read recently about organised, lower-level sport in that it exists primarily to give those that are going to make it somewhere to start and that for every one that does you need those dozens of others to act as teammates and opposition. '

They are huge part of the cost of bringing through that talent but they are also the collateral of that process. But without them it's harder for those that do to make it. They deliver that reward. And it's those you have to keep onside. Alfie (and Dan G before his injury) are not only showing the potential, but delivering the results to go further, but that development requires Richie, Adam, Connor and Eli to do what they do. To turn up, race laps, fall off and do it again week after week. And I'll say it, sometimes act as cannon fodder. But it is what it is, they can't all be the next GP champion and you know what maybe not all of them want it (Tony Atkin and Jon Armstrong seemed more than happy to race on for years while the young bucks sped past them) but they can teach those that are destined something along the way.

And Mark and Mattie can shoot me down but since their announcement my belief is that's exactly what the Centurions are about. Bring through Dan (and originally Henry), develop Ben into a top class rider.

For me, Gladiators are about the results and the entertainment, Centurions to watch the next generation get there.

Used to be a Rye House regular before moving to Cornwall 6 years ago, but have good memeroies of Alfie Bowtell and Danyon Hume in they  1st season in the National League with the Raiders,both were fast but lost count of the number of times one or other of them would full and fail to Finnish a race, threw so many points away with over trying. But boy was it exciting to watch them in they 1st few months when they were so raw. It's what the NDL league is supposed to be about in finding riders for the future.