STOKE SAS Spitfires kept up their good form as they beat Mildenhall 52-41 in what turned out to be a heated meeting at Loomer Road on Saturday.

Chris Johnson reacted angrily after being excluded in Heat 10 after falling when trying to go round Rob Grant. The tension spilled over which prompted referee Barbara Hawley to speak to both teams.

After things had calmed Barrie Evans and Jack Hargreaves remained unbeaten all night and Joe Reynolds also caught the eye in what was a solid team performance.

Stoke went ahead in Heat Three and stretched their lead to six points two races later as Luke Priest and Jack Hargreaves blocked former Potter Jon Armstrong.

By Heat 10 Stoke were six points up, a lead they extended to 10 points after Evans and Grant headed Armstrong in Heat 13, and Stoke cruised to victory.

The win came 24 hours after holding Armadale to an eight point lead in the first leg of the Conference Trophy final. The return leg is on October 29.

Team manager John Adams said: 'It's still very much in the balance, but I really think that we can pull it off now providing we all pull together on the night.'

The SAS Spitfires face a tough test when they take on Weymouth on Saturday. Meanwhile, Alan Mogridge came out on top of a poll conducted by the Speedway Riders Association and Speedway Star magazine to find the 2005 Supporters Rider of the Year.