BRISTOL lad Zach Wajtknecht showed again what a rare young British talent he is when claiming his third successive National League level 15-point maximum as the Swindon Sprockets went down to a narrow home 46-44 defeat against section winners Plymouth Devils last Thursday.

Wajtknecht, who rides for the senior Swindon Robins team at reserve, must not be allowed to get away.

The Sprocket's chance of a win in their final National Trophy match of 2017 were depleted somewhat the previous night when David Wallinger announced his retirement from the sport leaving manager Lee Kilby left with little option but to use rider replacement which produced a miserly three points.

However, with five heat winners in the first six races, the Sprockets looked on course for a win as they held an eight-point lead against the Devon side.

Plymouth pulled this back with 5-1 race wins in heats seven and eight followed by five shared heats. Race 14 saw the Devil’s Benji Compton and Callum Walker take a 5-1 over Layne Cupitt and Taylor Hampshire to lead 44-40.

So the Sprockets needed a 5-1 to draw the match. Zach Wajtknecht managed to overtake early leader Adam Roynon but with Dan Greenwood in third the hosts had to settle for a 4-2 which left them two points adrift (44-46).

SWINDON 44: Zach Wajtknecht 15, Dan Greenwood 8+1, Layne Cupitt 8+1, David Mason 7, Taylor Hampshire 4, Lewis Whitmore 2+1, David Wallinger (rider replacement).

PLYMOUTH 46: Callum Walker 12+2, Adam Roynon 12, Benji Compton 10+1, Luke Priest 7+1, Richard Andrews 4+2, William O’Keefe 1+1, Henry Atkins (rider replacement).