Mildenhall Fen Tigers' five-match winning run has been abruptly halted in Manchester following a 52-38 defeat to the Belle Vue Colts.

The Tigers put in a plucky performance during the National Development League (NDL) fixture and were level after heat three before the Colts steamed ahead by 14 points heading into heat 10.

Despite the onslaught, the Tigers steadied themselves, and the points deficit from heats 11 through 15 was zero, but not enough to prevent a first defeat of the 2023 season.

Ely Standard: Mildenhall Fen Tigers faced off against the Colts at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester during a Friday evening on May 26.Mildenhall Fen Tigers faced off against the Colts at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester during a Friday evening on May 26. (Image: Ian Charles)

Team Manager Jason Gardner is confident the Tigers can bounce back next weekend to take the bonus point and said: "It's a tough place to come and get any kind of result, as has been shown the past two seasons and again this term and we have done considerably better than their other opponents here so far this season by holding them to a 14 points margin.

"A number of our lads were here for either the first time or just a second occasion – why, even our most experienced rider, skipper on the night Alfie [Bowtell] rode in the very first meeting here back in 2016 and not since. 

"So with their riders very much dialled into the place, to achieve what we have tonight in restricting the Colts to just a 10-point lead after 14 heats has got to be seen as positive."

Ely Standard: The 14 point result deficit means an aggregate victory in the return fixture is still a realistic target for the Tigers.The 14 point result deficit means an aggregate victory in the return fixture is still a realistic target for the Tigers. (Image: Ian Charles)

Riders Arran Butcher and Alfie Bowtell rode impressively and helped the Tigers start well before a fall in heat eight swung momentum back to Belle Vue.

The Tigers' New Zealand Champion George Congreve, combined with double-figures scoring Butcher for an exultant 5-1 in the penultimate heat, but the damage was already done.

READ MORE: Tigers roar back from brink of defeat to win sensational speedway battle

Gardner added that the next few weeks will be vital to his team's chances of making the top two in what is already becoming a congested NDL table.

The Tigers will next travel away to league newcomers Workington on June 3 before a quick turnaround to play Belle Vue Colts in the return fixture the day after on June 4.