By Ky Capel - Dorset Echo

The rain called a halt to proceedings at the Wessex Stadium on Saturday night with the Weymouth Doonan Wildcats leading the Wimbledon Dons in a Challenge meeting. The Wildcats were 29-25 ahead with six heats to go when the wet weather proved too much of a deciding factor in the night's racing. Team manager Jem Dicken said: "It's always disappointing when you have a rain off, for the riders and the fans, but there's nothing you can do about it.

"The track rode well but the riders just couldn't see. All our boys are ticking fine and looking forward to Plymouth next week. They're all happy they got a ride but disappointed they couldn't carry on. However, the riders' safety is paramount, we will though give ticket holders a concession for next week."

Luke Priest was riding for Stoke in the Premier League against Mildenhall so the Wildcats used rider replacement in his absence. The start was delayed by 15 minutes to allow the riders the chance to get to grips with the damp Wessex track.

When the action started, Jon Armstrong and Brendan Johnson flew into an early lead in heat one but after the latter fell, and was eventually lapped, Jerran Hart and Andrew Bargh were able to ensure the opening race finished level. The Dons cleaned up in the second heat with Lee Strudwick and Terry Day taking a 5-1 on Tim Webster and Kyle Newman who, like Johnson before him, fell on the second lap. Former Wildcat Nathan Irwin twice delayed the start of heat three and was subsequently excluded for breaking the tapes on the second occasion. In came Strudwick as a replacement for Irwin but it was the Wildcats who took a 4-2 success courtesy of Karl Mason finishing first and Armstrong in third. Jay Herne won the fourth heat with ease but the hosts had to settle for a 3-3 verdict as Newman, in second at the time, suffered mechanical problems and had to retire with a lap remaining.

Webster, in for Priest, was forced to go off 15 metres from gate four for delaying the start of heat five but then, as the tapes rose, he carried his bike off the track in what appeared to be a form of protest against referee Posselwhite's decision. And his actions did the Wildcats no favours as the Dons recorded a 4-2 to move 17-13 in front. Johnson and Armstrong recorded a comfortable maximum in the next race to bring the overall score level. The rain by the now was getting progressively worse but the riders continued and Weymouth moved in front for the first time thanks to another 5-1, with Herne and Webster providing the maximum this time.

Newman suffered an engine failure ahead of heat eight so just three riders contested the race, however, Johnson notched his second heat victory to maintain the Wildcats' four-point advantage. Heat nine was won by Herne, his third from three races, but Matt Wright and Strudwick followed the Aussie over the line to record a 3-3. The next bout saw Johnson and Armstrong get off to a great start but both Johnson and Brown fell and Posselwhite took the decision to abandon the meeting.