2017
A disapointing year by Cradley standards
Season Review Sponsored once again by team partners Motor Market and Dudley
Stroke Association the Heathens competed in the National League. Racing meetings
at Monmore Green and Perry Barr. The team looked good on paper and their first
match against Kings Lynn at Perry Barr seemed to show their potential with a
61-29 win, however the Young Stars withdrew from the league and the score
expunged from the table. |
![]() |
L to
R. Ryan Burton, Dan Greenwood, Joe Lawlor, Danny Ayres, Conor Dwyer,
Luke Harris, |
However, injuries to riders and riders being unavailable (for various
reasons), cost the Heathens a place in the play-offs. It didn't help that
the doubling up of riders in the National League resulted in so many matches
with guests for Tom Perry and Danny Ayres. Coupled with that, Will Pottinger and Gary Patchett were hoping for good performances from the reserves Joe Lawlor and Ryan Burton. However Ryan Burton broke his collar-bone guesting for Scunthorpe on June 25th.
Shelby Rutherford was
quickly signed when he wanted a move away from Buxton but he never really
settled in and after five matches and his highest score of four points he
was dropped in favour of Tyler Govier, it didn't work out for Tyler and
after just two matches he was out. This happened at a time when Dan
Greenwood got injured and it left Cradley without a number seven and they
had to borrow unattached riders to complete the season. With Dan injured an
opportunity arose to sign Championship rider Richard Hall, this appeared to
be real scoop for the Heathens scoring a twelve point maximum in his first
home match and eight paid nine against Birmingham. Richard Hall then
aggravated a shoulder injury and rode only one more match for the Heathens
despite guesting for other teams. The Golden Hammer was run on 23rd October with National League superstar Dan Bewley taking the honours with former Heathen Max Clegg second and Ben Morley third in a three man run-off with all three finishing on thirteen points. |
statistics taken from the Cradley Speedway database for NL & KOC matches only.
Final League Table
|
National League Play-offs Grand Final 1st leg Eastbourne 45 Belle
Vue 33 Aggregate Belle Vue 89 Eastbourne 79 Belle Vue were crowned NL Champions after beating Eastbourne 89-79 |
KO
Cup |
|