Tough night for the Centurions

The understrength SWTR Centurions suffered a heavy home defeat by the Oxford Chargers last night in their latest NDL Fixture.

With their emphasis now on rider development for the future they were indebted to their Guest (and Westcolour Gladiators reserve) Alfie Bowtell who raced to an imperious 15 point maximum and in the process gained more valuable track time at The Coliseum.

The Chargers ran out comfortable winners by 56 points to 34 led by an outstanding UK debut performance by Australian teenager Luke Killeen, whose parentage affords him the benefit of a UK Passport allowing to ride in Development league Speedway in the UK, who had scored a 5 ride paid 15 point maximum (3 wins and 2 seconds finishing behind his teammate) before falling in Heat 15, which suggested he is another outstanding young Australian prospect. Many in the crowd will have left thinking this could be an “I was there” moment, having witnessed his UK debut.

The Chargers other reserve Arran Butcher, a former Gladiator of the club’s recent NDL past scored a career best 11 points and 3 bonus points and was backed by Chargers no 1 Jordan Jenkins with 12 points and another excellent young british prospect Sam Hagon who scored 9 points. 

With the absence of key riders from their originally declared 1-7, the SWTR Centurions, with the exception of Bowtell, struggled manfully against the tide of a team who were simply better on the night. 

Richard Andrews again gave 100% and from the tough No 5 slot scoring 5 points and probably deserving 2 or 3 more, Ben Trigger included a heat win in the 3rd heat before scoring 5 more points from 4 rides and a special mention must go out to Rhys Naylor who accepted a very late call up to make a near 600 mile round trip from Essex to score an impressive 4 points from 3 completed rides and a fall in his first competitive Speedway match in a decade. He would certainly be a welcome addition to the SWTR Centurions ranks if deciding to make a more permanent comeback.

It is perhaps a relief for the SWTR Centurions Team Manager Mattie Bates that his charges now take a 3 week break before their next scheduled fixture on the 5th July, allowing time to continue to scour the available transfer market to augment a Team whose confidence is clearly at a low point.

A reminder that the Clubs Championship League Chasing Westcolour Gladiators are in action at Birmingham tonight (7.30pm start) and return to The Coliseum next Tuesday for a Home Match against the Newcastle Diamonds (Tickets on Sale ONLINE here )

We’ll have a full review of the Westcolour Gladiators match online on the Club website tomorrow and a reminder that as well as the Home Fixture against Newcastle Diamonds next Tuesday the Westcolour Gladiators also a Home Fixture the following Tuesday 28th June against the Glasgow Tigers.

Children UNder 16 GO FREE is available for all remaining Fixtures at The Coliseum in 2022 as are ORGANISED GROUP Visits and full details can be found here:

Scores & Heat results

​​Plymouth Centurions = 34

1. Alfie Bowtell (G) – 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15 FULL MAXIMUM

2. Rhys Naylor (G) – 1, F/X, 1, 2’ = 4+1

3. Ben Trigger – 3, 1, 1, 2, 1 = 8

4. Ben Phillips (G) – 0, 0, F/X = 0

5. Richard Andrews – 1, 2, 1, 1 = 5

6. Eli Meadows – 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0

7. Connor King – 1, 0, F, 0, 1 = 2

Oxford Chargers = 56

1. Jordan Jenkins – 2, 3, 3, 2, 2 = 12

2. R/R for Ben Hopwood (JC – 0, SH – 2’, AB – 3, LK – 2’) = 7+2

3. Sam Hagon – 2, 2’, 3, 1, 1 = 9+1

4. Jacob Clouting – 0, 1’, 1, 0, 2’ = 4+2

5. Nathan Ablitt (G) – 2’, 2, 3, 0 = 7+1

6. Arran Butcher – 2’, 1’, 3, 2’, 3 = 11+3

7. Luke Killeen – 3, 3, 2’, 2’, 3, F = 13+2

Heat Results

Heat 01 Re-Run x2: Bowtell, Jenkins, Naylor, Clouting 4-2, 52.03

Heat 02: Killeen, Butcher, King, Meadows 1-5, 5-7, 53.28

Heat 03: Trigger, Hagon, Clouting, Phillips 3-3, 8-10, 54.75

Heat 04: Killeen, Ablitt, Andrews, King 1-5, 9-15, 52.75

Heat 05: Jenkins, Hagon, Trigger, Phillips 1-5, 10-20, 52.18

Heat 06 Re-Run: Bowtell, Ablitt, Butcher, Naylor (F/X) 3-3, 13-23, 52.75

Heat 07: Hagon, Andrews, Clouting, Meadows 2-4, 15-27, 53.97

Heat 08: Butcher, Killeen, Naylor, King (F) 1-5, 16-32, 54.37

Heat 09 Re-Run: Ablitt, Butcher, Trigger, Phillips (F/X) 1-5, 17-37, 54.29

Heat 10: Bowtell, Naylor, Hagon, Clouting 5-1, 22-38, 53.38

Heat 11: Jenkins, Killeen, Andrews, Meadows 1-5, 23-43, 54.09

Heat 12: Butcher, Trigger, Hagon, King 2-4, 25-47, 54.25

Heat 13: Bowtell, Jenkins, Andrews, Ablitt 4-2, 29-49, 53.00

Heat 14: Killeen, Clouting, King, Meadows 1-5, 30-54, 53.34

Heat 15: Bowtell, Jenkins, Trigger, Killeen (F) 4-2, 34-56, 53.35

Courtesy of Speedway Updates

Image Credit: Jon Sproad.