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Fast Eddie thrills the Eagles crowd
Trevor Geer has revealed why he gave Edward Kennett the chance to be an Arlington hero.
Kennett grabbed the winning point for Eastbourne Eagles in an epic 46-44 defeat of league-leading Swindon when he eased his way inside Travis McGowan at the end of the third lap in heat 15.
The popular local boy had been the most entertaining rider all night, producing key passes in two previous races.
This gutsy move only brought third place but that was enough for a 4-2 which won the overall contest as Scott Nicholls raced clear of Leigh Adams for his fourth win in five rides.
It was Nicholls' best performance yet in Eastbourne colours.
Lee Richardson rode through the pain of an injured right wrist and left hand to add crucial points, including a win against Adams, and Cameron Woodward was back to his best.
Lewis Bridger was hit and miss but, when Eagles most needed him to win a race, he did so with authority in heat eight.
But the biggest cheer came for Kennett as he completed his post-match lap of honour punching the air.
Both teams had earlier enjoyed four-point leads but with the scores tied at 42-42 after 14 heats Eagles might have been expected to nominate Nicholls and Richardson for the decider.
Instead the combination of Kennett's performances in earlier rides and Richardson's injury concerns persuaded Geer to give the former the nod.
What followed may well go down in Arlington folklore.
The Eagles team manager said: "Scotty was a definite choice but we didn't know whether to go with Lee or Ed.
"Lee was popping out of the gate but Edward was fantastic in heat 13. I just thought with Leigh Adams out there we needed a real battler.
"Lee is still suffering with his wrist so I thought Edward's fit, he'll take it'. There was a bit of a conflab in the pits but I really wanted Edward out there."
Nicholls cut back inside Adams off bend two to get out in front and for a while it seemed Robins would block out Kennett for the 3-3.
McGowan, however, started to lag behind his senior partner and Kennett had a couple of cracks at him before making his triumphant swoop with a lap to spare.
He had produced a similar move against the same opponent to win heat seven.
Kennett said: "They were team riding but I knew Travis was riding just that little bit wider and I managed to creep up on him coming out of the third and fourth on the inside and pass him down the straight.
"I just got my head down then and I knew the chequered flag was on the next lap.
"I was a little bit nervous before I went out but I knew I had to do the job.
"I didn't want to let the boys down and I did it for (co-promoter) Martin Hagon as well."
So Eagles bounced back from three successive away defeats, including a 57-36 humbling at Swindon, and this win will have done much to restore the feel-good factor among a 1,500 crowd.
It was a superb meeting, not just because it was so closely contested but also for the quality of the racing.
There were too many highlights to mention but the way Adams squeezed through to pip Woodward for second in heat five, and Nicholls' cut back inside Mads Korneliusson in the next race, will remain in the memory.
Then there was a thriller of a heat 13 when Swindon looked to be on the 5-1 which would have put them ahead until Nicholls and Kennett both got past Troy Batchelor to force a 3-3.
That meant Eagles led 40-38 but then Seb Alden capped his own good night by edging a tussle with Woodward, leaving it all tied up with a race to go.
Cue a fabulous finale.
10:06pm Sunday 4th May 2008
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