The Isle of Wight Warriors speedway team slipped to a narrow defeat at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde on Thursday, July 18.

Against a strong looking Kent Kings side, the Island side were always going to be up against it but showed determination from the off.

Ex-Warrior Ben Morley duly won heat one but he was followed home by teenager Sonny Springer and captain Arran Butcher for a shared heat.

Heat two went to a re-run and Danno Verge stormed to victory. Dale Woods' machine once again started slowing allowing Henning Loof through for a home 5-1 and an 8-4 lead.

The visitors hit back immediately with William Cairns, 15, showing just why Belle Vue rushed to snap him up.

Patrick Hamilton hit a 1-5 against a somewhat subdued Chad Wirtzfeld, who was returning from injury.

Ben Morley provided the race of the night with a pillar to post victory over Verge to win the fourth, but again the home side tucked in to share the heat and keep the scores level.

Heat five was stopped after Wood got into difficulty on turn two resulting in home rider Morgan Williams being unable to avoid him and Hargrave collecting the duo in what looked a horrific spill.

There was a long delay as both riders lay stricken on the track as medics rushed to their aid.

Sonny Springer replaced Williams to win the rerun with Hargrave hanging onto second place from Wirtzfeld as the home side took a 16-14 lead.

Cairns won a blistering heat five coming off of a 15 meter handicap as was Springer who failed to make the two minute warning, with Butcher retiring from the race Hamilton’s third place levelled things up one again at 18 apiece.

Heat seven saw Morley off 15 metres, but he picked off the opponents one by one, with a sublime last bend swoop past Verge to snatch the victory and keep the scores level at 21-21.

Cairns was at it once again winning heat eight from Wirtzfeld with Springer taking third. 24-24.

In the final heat, Cairns won it and with Verge second and Loof holing third, a draw looked on the cards. However, Verge came down on the third lap, stopping the race and giving the visitors a 2-4 win.

The final result was 26-28.