This was a Premier Trophy meeting with pride to play for and a jump over Scunthorpe in the final Northern Trophy group table, so there was still plenty to play for despite South Yorkshire outfit Sheffield already through to the next round.

Rider replacement was still in operation for the injured George Stancl and sadly once again somewhat ineffective whilst Scott Richardson (son of former Diamond, Derek) guested for the injured Jamie Robertson, who was suffering head and neck pain following his smash at Birmingham midweek.

Josef Franc had a fine night, but only after a slow start which inexplicably saw him last in Heat One with no firepower to fight back as Mark Burrows relegated him to the back with a lap to go, but it was a great win for Newcastle's other guest, Giffard, who roasted the opposition in a great win.

Stoke hit maximum 5-1s on three occasions in the opening six heats, when the Diamonds found themselves 12 points down, bringing in Franc as the rider replacement and tactical ride in a Heat Seven which he won in fine style from the gate for six points but Jason King was at the rear in the 6-3 scoreline.

With the score at 51-30 at the end of Heat 13, the match was already lost for the Diamonds but in Heat 14 Sean Stoddart and King in fine form late on they took the max for Newcastle, taking the score to 52-35, but it was all too late.

Franc finished off a great night with a win in Heat 15 which was shared as Stoddart was to the rear behind Ben Barker and Lee Complin.

This evening (Sunday 11th at 5.30pm) at the Newcastle Stadium it's the chance for the younger riders to battle it out in their own competition, the Sapphire Engineering Junior Championship.

Stoke "Easy Rider" Potters 54
1. Lee Complin 2 3 3 2 1* = 11 + 1
2. Mark Burrows 1* 2* 3 0 = 6 + 2
3. Ben Barker 3 3 3 3 2 = 14
4. Klaus Jakobsen 2* 0 1 0 = 3 + 1
5. Emiliano Sanchez 3 1* 1 1* = 6 + 2
6. Barrie Evans 3 2 3 1 = 9
7. Jesper Kristiansen 2* 0 2* 1 = 5 + 2

Newcastle Sapphire Engineering Diamonds 39
1. Josef Franc 0 2 6^ 2 3 3 = 16
2. Daniel Gifford (G) 3 0 1 1* 0 0 = 4 + 1
3. George Stancl R/R
4. Jason King 11 1 0 1* 2 2* = 7 + 2
5. Christian Henry 1* 2 2 0 = 5 + 1
6. Scott Richardson (G) 0 0 0 = 0
7. Sean Stoddart 1 2 1 0 3 0 = 7