Kiwi sensation Jade Mudgway recorded his second successive maximum when the Buxton Hitmen had an easy passage into the next round of the National League Knockout Cup as they thrashed the Rye House Cobras 68-22 on Sunday.
The Hitmen trailed the Cobras by six points after the first leg in Hertfordshire and were looking to make an early dent into the visitors’ advantage. Buxton took a 4-2 and a 5-1 in the opening two races to draw level on aggregate and the Hitmen were heading for another 5-1 as the successful pairing from the previous meeting of Gareth Isherwood and Jade Mudgway headed the Cobras pairing until Isherwood suffered a puncture on the back straight of the third lap while leading. Mudgway had enough of an advantage over Jamie Courtney to take the win.
Following a 4-2 to take them into a narrow two point lead in the tie, Mudgway made the start in Heat 5 but Isherwood was squeezed out on a tight first turn by Halsey and Blake. He gave chase and was right on Blake’s case when the Cobras man stopped on the third lap as Mudgway won by a street to give Buxton a 20-10 lead on the day.
Rye House then fell apart as Buxton banged in three successive maximums. Mudgway, revelling in the perfect racing conditions, and Isherwood teamed up for another 5-1 in Heat 9 to virtually seal the tie as they won with ease over Lee Strudwick with Rob Smith retiring from third place. After two more 5-1’s and in a carbon copy of Heat 12 from the week before, Dallaway led with Mudgway dropping in behind his partner to cover his back wheel from the attentions of opposition. After a couple of laps, Courtney was far enough behind the Hitmen for them to relax and in meant that Mudgway had completed the day unbeaten by an opponent for the second week running.
The Hitmen wrapped up the tie with another 5-1 and a couple of 4-2’s to win 68-22 on the day and 112-72 on aggregate with Mudgway, Scott James and Craig Cook all picking up paid maximums.
Scorers :
Buxton – L Smethills 10, D Hodgson 7+3, J Mudgway 11+1, G Isherwood 6+1, S James 10+2, C Cook 14+1, L Dallaway 10+1.
Rye House – D Halsey 8, D Blake 1, J Courtney 5, T Heath 1+1, R Smith 0, L Strudwick 1, B Morley 6.
