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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
The Berwick “A & J Scott Limited” Bandits discovered the hard way that the Newcastle “Sapphire Engineering” Diamonds are no push-overs in 2010 as the visitors took a four-point win at the Border track.
The meeting itself was a superbly exciting affair with some superb racing of the highest standard rewarding fully the large attendance that turned up to support both sides.
It was, however at a cost for Berwick who lost the services of new-boy Lee Complin with a suspected arm injury, the full details of which are still to be determined following hospital investigations.
The meeting had already warmed the crowd up with some vigorous racing and wide-line passing from Adrian Rymel, Paul Clews, Lee Complin (although fell in his first outing) as well as top points scoring reserve, Craig Branney when disaster struck alarmingly in Heat Five.
With Kenni Larsen out in front Complin powered hard round him on bend two to take a good lead, followed at speed by clews around the same fast outside line, but going into the third bend the debut rider went badly out of shape and slid into the fence, right in front of the chasing Clews who in turn bailed out, but he was too close to avoid the stricken Complin as he ploughed alarmingly into the obstruction.
Complin was immediately seen to by the medical staff, and whilst it was quickly ascertained he had not any major damage to heads and necks it was also quickly discovered his arm was in a great deal of pain and was ambulanced off the track and transferred to the County NHS Service for a trip to hospital where detailed x-rays would take place.
Some 55 minutes later the match resumed with the medical staff having completed the hand-over, with the re-run presenting Newcastle with a 2-4 heat result putting them within two points of the home side indicated it was well and truly – “Game On!”
A massive lead and subsequent win from the always-impressive Mark Lemon held the gap at two, but a win for Rene Bach ahead of his skipper Jason King in Heat Seven over a lively-looking Anders Andersen and a fallen Michal Makovsky (Testimonial man next week!) gave Newcastle the 1-5 to put them two-up on 20-22.
Heat Eight was a heart-in-mouth event with Sneddon rocketing himself between the two Bandits off bend two, only for New Zealander Jade Mudgway to return the compliment with an equally unexpected burst of speed moments later to take up the lead with Branney taking both Diamonds from the back half a lap later to form a home 5-1 and take Berwick back in front by 25-23.
Another massive win from Lemon in the shared ninth Rymel took the 10th in another 3-3 to maintain the gap at 31-29, but in one of the best races seen in ages Heat 11 put the Diamonds back in front with Larsen and Sneddon forming what looked to be a solid 1-5, until Berwick’s new Dane Anders Andersen flew round the outside line on bend four to pass fellow Dane, Larsen, in a thrilling move, but going into the first bend on lap two Larsen wound on the power and re-passed the Bandit, holding the maximum to the end, and take the score to 32-34.
Branney and Clews hit five past King and Dakota North in the 12th to restore the home side’s lead 37-35, but again Newcastle struck back in heat 13, a race that saw a very uncharacteristic second fall for Makovsky as Lemon took another huge win over partner Larsen as Newcastle moved into the lead once more 38-40.
Branney just held onto his third win of the night in the 14th race as Bach roared up behind to force another great battle on track, but with Andersen suffering an engine failure as the starting gate went up the 3-3 was all Berwick could achieve going into the final race two down at 41-43.
Larsen swooped round Rymel on bend three of the opening lap of the final Heat 15 and despite more good lunging from the rear of the field, the result was settled as an away win with the 2-4 ended the match at 43-47 making Newcastle favourites to take the trophy for the third straight season in the second leg tonight at 6.30pm at the Newcastle Stadium.
Newcastle’s team manager George English said: “This was a very satisfying start to the new season and whilst they did lose a key team member early on their own officials were praising out strength as a side which made the victory even more memorable. We were always hoping we would gel as a team early on and up at Berwick we saw just that and it really does give us a head-start in 2010. This was a good victory tonight.”
Berwick “A & J Scott Ltd.” Bandits 43
1. Adrian Rymel 3,1*,3,1,2 = 10+1
2. Jade Mudgway 0,2,3,0 = 5
3. Paul Clews © 2,2,2,2* = 8+1
4. Lee Complin 0,Fx,N,N = 0
5. Michal Makovsky 3,R,1,F = 4
6. Anders Andersen ® 2*,1,1*,0,R = 4+2
7. Craig Branney ® 3,1,2*,3,3,0 = 12+1
Newcastle “Sapphire Engineering” Diamonds 47
1. Kenni Larsen 1*,3,2*,2*,3 = 11+3
2. Derek Sneddon 2,1,F,3 = 6
3. Jason King © 3,2*,2,1 = 8+1
4. Rene Bach 1,3,1*,2,1 = 8+1
5. Mark Lemon 2,3,3,3 = 11
6. Dakota North ® 1,F,0,0 = 1
7. Adam McKinna ® 0,0,1,1* = 2+1
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