Cradley 59, Stoke 33

CRADLEY breathed life into their National League title defence with victory over Stoke at Perry Barr tonight.

The depleted Heathens, still nursing the injury losses of Michael Neal and Nathan Greaves, put a difficult spell behind them to record a 59-33 success.

They bounced back from the club's first back-to-back defeats since 2011 with a solid showing in front of their supporters from the Black Country.

Both recent loses had come at the hands of title rivals Mildenhall and Birmingham and boss Will Pottinger's side were in serious need of something to cheer as they looked to slash the ten point deficit to leaders Brummies.

Skipper Max Clegg got their evening off to a perfect start by storming home ahead of the opposition in heat one.

He was followed home by teammate Aaron Mogridge as the hosts secured an early 5-1.

Perks then repeated the feat he achieved a fortnight before against the Brummies as he overcame a 15 metre penalty to claim success in heat two.

He stormed from last to first to take the win despite his earlier tape infringement. Teammate Tyler Govier did well to take third an ensure a heat advantage.

Cradley continued to assert their superiority with a maximum points haul in heat 4 but then stalled in their attempts to get away from the determined Potters.

The visitors took more points from heat five thanks to Jon Armstrong's second-placed tactical ride.

However, the impressive Ellis Perks limited the damage somewhat with the win.

A couple of drawn heats soon after saw just eight points between the sides approaching heat eight.

But it was in the following contest when the Heathens did begin to pull away as Perks finished ahead of Mogridge for another 5-1.

Further maximum points hauls in heats 10 and 14 meant the hosts would end a reasonably comfortable evening on a high.

CRADLEY 59: Ellis Perks 20+1, Max Clegg 15, Matt Williamson 14, Arron Mogridge 8+4, Tyler Govier 2, Adam Extance 0, Nathan Greaves R/R.

STOKE 33: Lee Payne 9, Danny Phillips 7+1, Jon Armstrong 7, Ryan Terry-Daley 4+2, Shaun Tedham 4+1, Paul Burnett 2+2, Chris Widman R/R.

National League points: Cradley 3 Stoke 0