Diamonds pick up first win of the year

Apr 14 2009 The Journal

Newcastle Diamonds 48, Glasgow Tigers 45

NEWCASTLE and Glasgow fought a tight battle from the off at the Newcastle Stadium last night, but the Diamonds emerged with their first official win of the year.

The Diamonds reversed the early deficit in the fourth race in a superb tussle which saw Newcastle skipper Jason King scorch round the former Byker kingpin James Grieves hard round the outside of bend four and, inspired by his captain Craig Branney. emulated the move on the last bend to form a 5-1, taking the score to 13-11. Another fine ride from King in the seventh pipped Josh Grajczonek for the win on the line to extend the lead to 23-19, a feat repeated by an on-fire Derek Sneddon and Branney who passed Grajczonek on the third lap (27-21).

Trent Leverington forced a determined bend one in heat nine, closing the door firmly on Andersen’s nose to grab a vital win in another 4-2 to extend the lead to a comfortable 31-24.

A frightening crash in heat 11 saw King disqualified from the re-run as he and Mitchell Davey’s bikes somersaulted down the track with Davey picking up a hand injury.

Shane Parker was on a tactical ride for the 11th for double points, and took the win in a 2-7 to reduce the Diamonds’ lead to 37-32.

With one heat to go, the Tigers had tightened it up dramatically with the score going into heat 15 standing at 45-42 with Glasgow’s top two Grieves and Parker going against Steve Boxall and Kenni Larsen for Newcastle.

Larsen rode the most aggressive first two bends of his career to fend off the fierce challenge of Grieves and Parker, so effectively his initial lead was sufficient, despite massive opposition, to take the points and win the match for Newcastle 48-45.

SCORERS

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: Steve Boxall 6, Derek Sneddon 8+1, Trent Leverington 8+2, Kenni Larsen 11, Jason King (Captain) 6, Casper Wortmann 3, Craig Branney 6+1.

GLASGOW TIGERS: Shane Parker 16+1, Ross Brady - rider replacement, Paul Juul 2, Josh Grajczonek 8+1, James Grieves 8+2, Mitchell Davey 1, Anders Andersen 9, Adam McKinna 1.