SOUTHAMPTON speedway ace Shaun Woodhouse justified his favourite tag in the Under-19 British League South West Individual Championship at Southampton by claiming victory.

He recorded a 20-point maximum to lead home Horspath's Dave Beesley and Poole's Kevin Marshalsay.

Southampton's Damon Hurst began well with nine points from his first three rides but finished the meeting with a last and an exclusion.

And in the seniors event Woodhouse took full advantage on his home track to make it two out of two for the day. He finished on 19 points along with Poole's Pete Young and Swindon's Robert Bedra.

The three-man run-off was always going to be a battle of who got the first bend first. Woodhouse took in the inside line and powered down the back straight for victory.

Southampton travelled to Suffolk in confident mood for their quarter-final clash with Great Blakenham and looking to extend the long unbeaten run.

And all started well for Southampton, Lee Galley, Gavin Wheeler and Woodhouse winning the first three heats with the second strings picking up the third places. Damon Hurst took heat four to maintain the six-point lead but Great Blakenham pulled two points back in the fifth.

Southampton suffered a setback in heat six when Wheeler's front wheel went from under him which hindered the progress of teammate Nathan Harris and the home side pulled two within two points, a comeback short-lived as Wheeler and Woodhouse jumped out of the gate first in the seventh to regain the six-point advantage.

Saints needed a steady second half to secure their place in the semi-finals and with only six heats left the south coast riders held an eight-point lead.

And they nearly threw it all away when Great Blakenham pulled back to within one point with four heats to go.

But, sniffing victory, Ian Woodhouse took the 15th with son Shaun following him and Wheeler and Robinson were dominant in the next heat to go nine clear again and when Shaun Woodhouse and Harris secured a 6-4 in the penultimate heat a 95-84 victory was assured.

Scorers: Pete Robinson 12+2, Lee Galley 12+1, Nathan Harris 10+1, Gavin Wheeler 15+1, Colin Wheeler 12, Shaun Woodhouse 15+2, Damon Hurst 4, Ian Woodhouse 15.

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