REACTION: “It was the right decision to call a halt to the meeting tonight.”

LEAGUE LEADERS WSRA Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales found their top-of-the-table National League clash at Leicester last night (Saturday) abandoned after five races due to a rain shower. The result will not stand and the meeting will have to be re-staged.

Leicester Lions Cubs led by 17-13, with a delay in proceedings after a heavy fall for Leicester’s Max James. While medics were tending to the teenager, a shower hit the track and left it in a precarious state and both teams agreed to abandon the meeting.

Lion Cubs marched into a 15-9 lead, before Jordan Jenkins and Jacob Clouting held a 4-2 in Heat 5 when fourth-placed James went wide and suffered a heavy contact with the air fence on the fourth bend of the third lap.

Before the abandonment, both Luke Killeen (Heat 2) and Jenkins (Heat 5) had won races for Oxford.

Chargers were on second in a double-header at Beaumont Park. In the preceding meeting, Sheffield had defeated Leicester Lions by 47-42 in a Premiership clash, with a sparkling performance from treble World Champion Tai Woffinden.

Team manager Peter Schroeck said: “It was the right decision to call a halt to the meeting tonight.

“The idea was to quickly get to Heat 10, but then the unfortunate crash to Max James happened. The good news seems to be that he has escaped any major injuries.

“The track had already had quite a lot of usage tonight, because of the meeting before us, and therefore when the heavens opened up, it couldn’t take much. Both teams agreed to call it off, so we can re-stage on a better night. I think it was the fairest thing for both teams. We’ll find another date and live to fight again.”

Leicester Lion Cubs 17: Max Clegg 3, Ashton Boughen 1, Max Perry 5, Max James 2+1, Joe Thompson 3, Vinnie Foord 2, Tom Spencer 1+1.

WSRA Oxford Chargers, powered by SD Timmo Car Sales 13: Jordan Jenkins 5, Jacob Clouting 1, Ryan Kinsley 1, Jody Scott 0, Henry Atkins 1+1, Luke Killeen 5, Jason Garrad 0.

PHOTO: Peter Schroeck with Luke Killeen and Jody Scott (PIC: STEVE EDMUNDS)