The Wanganui Warriors ended their two-year run of making the finals of the ENZED Superstock Teams Champs after they were unable to advance out of their pool on a brutal Saturday at Arena Manawatu.
A new-look squad consisting of team veterans Bevan Humphrey and Dion Mooney, a returning Scott Duncanand newcomers Francis Potaka and Keegan Levien were beaten 100-65 by the Stratford Scrappers, in a battle where barely a superstock was left operable. Both the leading cars to score points were rolled over, first Scrapper Carl Shearer and a spectacular high hit into the fence from Levien, who was also eliminated by the damage, and then Humphrey was tipped by Bruce Williams.
Scrappers also lost Paul Johnson, who rolled, and only a handful of cars were still standing. Duncan inherited the lead for the Warriors but, unfortunately, popped his right-rear tyre, and then sole-remaining Scrapper Clint Hill staggered the last leading laps to get his team home, despite steaming after clobbering Potaka.
The Scrappers then went down to the fresh Great Britain Lions 130-65, leaving the Warriors in a do-or-die matchup with the English team when they met in the last matchup of Group C. The Lions were then professional and won through comfortably 175-20, with drivers Frankie Wainman, Ben Hurdman and Lee Fairhurst all on top.
Waiman ran the decisive leading laps, while Fairhurst nearly managed to roll Humphrey, who was second at the time.
Chris Cowley absorbed most of the Warriors' punishment in his blocking role for the Lions, who finished on a total of 305 points in the group, followed by the Scrappers 165 and Warriors 85.
¦Tony Stuart will have a more detailed report later this week.
