Newcastle Stadium played hosts to a typically tense local derby with Berwick aided and abetted by a very tricky track surface affected by heavy rain in the preceding 48 hours leaving it soft and unpredictable.

Berwick were without Norbert Magosi but were very well catered for by their Czech duo who excelled all night, with Makovsky’s win in Heat Three amazing everyone as it was done with no steel shoe!

Josef Franc and George Stancl suffered awful nights unable to really get going at all, with the latter looking most affected with a despondent look about his racing, whilst Pepe just looked well down on power.

Richard Juul, making his home debut as new skipper rode steadily if not dramatically for his four points but was playing the inspirational captain’s roll to a tee in the pist.

Jason King and Christian Henry had good nights with good wins coming their way.

Newcastle stand-in Team Manager and club director Darryl Illingworth said: “This was a good win, but for a while towards the end things got too close for comfort and thankfully Jerran and Jason ended our concerns with a brilliant 5-1 to clinch the match as ours and put us up the League by a couple of places.”

Newcastle Sapphire Engineering Diamonds 47
Josef Franc 2,2,2,0 = 6
Richard Juul © 1*,1*,1,1* = 4+3
George Stancl 2,1*,R,2 = 5+1
Jason King 1*,2,3,3,1*  = 10+2
Christian Henry 3,3,2,2,2 = 12
Jerran Hart ® X,1,0,2* = 3+1
Sean Stoddart ® 3,1,3,0 = 7 

Anderson’s Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 42
1.    Adrian Rymel © 3,Fx,3,3,3 = 12
2.    Norbert Magosi – Rider Replacement
3.    Michal Makovsky 3,Fx,3,1,3,Fx = 10
4.    Tony Atkin 0,0,2,0,0 = 2
5.    Tero Aarnio 2,3,0,1*,1 = 7+1
6.    Paul Clews ® 2,3,N,2,2,1,1 = 11
7.    Scott Smith ® X,0,X,N,N = 0