Heathens head into second leg with just five riders (From Stourbridge News)

Heathens head into second leg with just five riders

9:43am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

DUDLEY Heathens will head into tonight's National League title decider with Mildenhall at King's Lynn with only five of their own riders.

Tom Perry, who has enjoyed a sensational season for the former Cradley club, has seen his season ended with a broken thumb and broken scaphoid sustained in last night's dramatic first leg at Monmore which Heathens won by 14.

And Byron Bekker has finally admitted defeat in his bid to get back on a bike as he awaits surgery to repair damaged knee ligaments.

Boss Will Pottinger will utilise the rider replacement facility for Perry but the club have no other option than to use an unattached rider with a three-point average to cover for Bekker.

Said Pottinger: "The rules are completely unsatisfactory in this situation as we have two riders out with serious injuries.

"The league title is about to be decided and we are seriously under-strength. Having said that, we have a 14-point lead to defend and we are on a neutral track at King's Lynn.

"We will go there and try and win it for Tom and Byron. We still believe!"