BELLE VUE 51 TIGERS 39: ACES BACK ON TOP OF THE PILE
Belle Vue secured a fourth league title in six years with a convincing 12-point victory over Leicester.
Richard Lawson continued his fine recent form by setting the tone with a comfortable victory in the opening race, and though Leicester levelled the scores with an equally convincing heat victory of their own, Aces continued to hold the upper-hand throughout the early stages.
A 5-1 in heat four moved the hosts into a three-point lead, with their lead increased to five thanks to a 4-2 in heat five. Leicester hit back in heat six, before the sides shared the spoils in a thrilling heat seven, leaving the hosts with a slender 31-28 lead at the halfway stage.
Belle Vue’s superior strength in depth began to show after the break, with the home side winning three of the next four heats to open up an 11-point gap.
Leicester refused to lie down and won heats 12 and 13 to reduce the deficit to seven points, before Belle Vue wrapped up the victory in style, securing a 4-2 in heat 14.
The victory secures Belle Vue’s third league title in the space of four seasons and moves the club level with Leicester on four league crowns since the Elite League was established in 2000.
TEAMS
Belle Vue: Richard Lawson (11), Matej Zagar (8), Charles Wright (9), Max Fricke (10), Steve Worrall (9), Tom Brennan (4) Leicester: Jason Doyle (8), Ryan Douglas (7), Nick Morris (8), Danny King (7), Josh Bates (7), Kyle Howarth (2)
SCORES
Belle Vue 51: Leicester 39 Heat 1: 4-2 Lawson, Doyle Heat 2: 2-4 Douglas, Wright Heat 3: 5-1 Lawson, Zagar, Wright Heat 4: 4-2 Zagar, Brennan, Fricke Heat 5: 4-2 Lawson, Wright Heat 6: 1-5 Doyle, Howarth Heat 7: 3-3 Lawson, Zagar, Morris Heat 8: 5-1 Wright, Fricke, Brennan Heat 9: 4-2 Lawson, Zagar Heat 10: 4-2 Lawson, Fricke Heat 11: 2-4 Douglas, Doyle Heat 12: 1-5 Doyle, King Heat 13: 1-5 Morris, Bates Heat 14: 4-2 Lawson, Wright
Belle Vue scorers: Richard Lawson 11, Matej Zagar 8, Charles Wright 9, Max Fricke 10, Steve Worrall 9, Tom Brennan 4
Leicester scorers: Jason Doyle 8, Ryan Douglas 7, Nick Morris 8, Danny King 7, Josh Bates 7, Kyle Howarth 2
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