LAST GASP LIONS
Saturday July 06, 2013
Great Britain completed a remarkable come-back with a last race 5-1 to snatch a 46-44 victory in the second Ashes Test match at Rye House on Saturday night. The result gives the Lions a 2-0 lead in the five match series.

Twice Britain trailed by eight points, and twice they fought back to get within spitting distance ahead of that emotional finale.

They were always playing catch-up after Australia opened with maximum results from the first two races to take an early 10-2 advantage. Rohan Tungate and Mark Lemon – performing triple duty as No.1, captain and team manager following the late withdrawal of Jason Doyle – opened the proceedings with a 5-1 over Adam Roynon and Leigh Lanham, who was himself called up at short notice following Ben Barker’s foot injury the previous night. The ‘Roos repeated the same one-two finish in the next heat as Silver Ski Rocket Tyson Nelson and Todd Kurtz held off Kyle Newman and Andrew Tully in a blanket dash to the line.

The Lions slowly pulled themselves back into contention, with a Heat 5 maximum from Richie Worrall and Stuart Robson cutting the deficit to 13-17, and captain Lewis Bridger’s victory two races later helping to edge things even closer at 20-22.

The points spread ascended to eight again, however, following successive Aussie strikes. Josh Grajconek and Nick Morris maxed out in Heat 10, while it took a last lap surge from Bridger to steal second spot from Lemon in Heat 11 and prevent a second straight 5-1. At 32-40, though, Britain looked to be heading for the exit door.

The situation altered radically when Lanham clamped down on Lemon on the first two bends of Heat 13, freeing up Bridger for the big outside run that set up a vital 5-1 and closed the gap to 37-41.

The margin was down to two points following Worrall’s Heat 14 victory, with Kyle Newman desperately fending Nelson off for a critical third place point.

So, at 41-43, the Lions needed maximum points from the final race to sneak an unexpected victory. Many in the crowd expected Robson to be one of their nominations – the veteran had dropped a single point all night when losing to Nelson by half a wheel in an epic Heat 9 and later gaining revenge in an equally enthralling Heat 12 – and there was therefore some surprise when Worrall was announced as Bridger’s partner for the decider. Those murmurings were quickly silenced, however, as the pair completed an emphatic 5-1 over Tungate and Nelson despite the ‘Roos choice of gates.

Britain had led only once, but at the point when it truly mattered…. after heat 15.

Team manager Phil Morris explained his last race nominations after the match. “I appreciate what Robbo, and also Leigh (Lanham), had done for us but this meeting, for me, was really about the younger lads. That’s why I went with Lewis and Richie – and Robbo agreed with that decision.

“It was a massive 5-1, on gates that Australia chose.”

“It was a great come-back by the team. It looked like we would be 10 points down after Heat 10, and I was already getting the black and white helmet colour ready for Robbo (as a double points Tactical nomination) in Heat 11 when Lewis somehow pulled off that second place.

“To fight back from eight points down was a tremendous accomplishment by all the team. It really set the seal on things to get the 5-1 in Heat 15 through two riders in contention in the World Cup squad.

“Overall, it’s been a very good day at the office.”

Scorers for Great Britain:

Leigh Lanham 7+1 (4 rides)
Adam Roynon 2 (4)
Stuart Robson 10+1 (4)
Richie Worrall 9 (5)
Lewis Bridger 12+1 (5)
Andrew Tully 2+1 (4)
Kyle Newman 4+2 (4)

Scorers for Australia:

Mark Lemon 5+1 (4 rides)
Rohan Tungate 10 (5)
Josh Grajczonek 7+2 (4)
Nick Morris 6+1 (4)
Aaron Summers 2 (4)
Todd Kurtz 3+2 (2)
Tyson Nelson 11 (6)

Footnote: Todd Kurtz was withdrawn after two races after suffering a groin injury.