CRADLEY reignited their play-off hopes with a brilliant 49-40 win at Plymouth.

It meant the Anchor Logistics Heathens grabbed all four league points on offer, putting them level with fourth placed Isle of Wight in the National League standings.

It sets up an exciting final regular home meeting with high flying Kent at Monmore Green on Monday (7.30) with the Heathens well and truly back in the mix.

Their victory at the newly named Plymouth Coliseum was their second away victory of the season - and it was arguably their best win of the year too.

They had to do it without the experience of Danny Halsey as well, who was forced to pull out on the morning of the fixture after aggravating an existing injury in a couple of spills in Tuesday’s defeat at Leicester.

But his team-mates stepped up to the plate superbly as a unit to keep their top four hopes alive.

Captain Max Clegg inspired the side once again, dropping just one point from six rides.

He was backed up solidly by fellow heat-leader Jack Smith while Tom Spencer, who was returning from a spell out with concussion, produced one of his displays of the campaign.

Guest Ryan Terry-Daley filled Luke Harris’ boots well against his former club while inexperienced reserve pairing Harry McGurk and James Chattin contributed four vital points apiece between them.

Captain Clegg said: “I’m so proud of each and every one of the boys.

“It was a true team performance and everyone did their bit which was great to see.

“It reminded me of Tuesday’s meeting at Leicester to start with where it was close at first, but tonight we carried on plugging away and got even stronger as it went on.

“We’re all buzzing for Monday now and hopefully we can get a good crowd behind us for what is now a massive meeting.”

PLYMOUTH 40: Ben Wilson 13, Henry Atkins 10, Richard Andrews 8, Jamie Bursill 6+1, Tom Young 3, Kris Andrews 0, Adam Sheppard R/R.
CRADLEY 49: Max Clegg 17, Jack Smith 9+1, Tom Spencer 8+1, Ryan Terry-Daley 7, Harry McGurk 4+3, James Chattin 4+1, Danny Halsey R/R.