Speedway: Somerset Rebels 64, Newcastle Diamonds 28

Apr 26 2008 by Lawrence Heppell, The Journal

NEWCASTLE now have a task of massive proportions to reach the Knockout Cup quarter-finals.

Somerset are a team who ride their tidy Oak Tree Arena with precision-like expertise and the Diamonds, lacking George Stancl’s scoring power, just couldn’t get on terms with their rivals.

Newcastle could only muster up two heat winners on a night to forget, with only Josef Franc and guest Danny Warwick deserving credit, with the Czech taking a solid win in heat five and a second placed tactical rider for four points in Heat eight.

But apart from Warwick’s heat four win over Brent Werner and Stephan Katt, there was precious little else to take as Somerset romped home to victory.

Newcastle now hope for Somerset to have a similar nightmare in tomorrow evening’s deciding leg, which starts at 5.30pm.

Meanwhile, Berwick Bandits have set up a perfectly-poised second leg at Shielfield Park tonight (7pm) after they were narrowly beaten 54-38 at Edinburgh Monarchs. Bandits promoter, Peter Waite said: “It was certainly one of our better showings here and I think we might have just done enough for us to turn this 16 points over at home in the second leg.

“It’s just a shame we had to lose what could be vital points in that last heat.”

AT the British Under-21 Final at Lakeside, Sean Stoddart of Newcastle scored five qualifying points, failing to make the semi final.

Redcar’s Josh Auty scored eight points and he also bowed out before the semi-final stage.

SOMERSET REBELS: Jason Doyle 14+1, Jordan Frampton 8+2, Emil Kramer 12, Matthias Kroger 6+3, Stephan Katt 7+2, Simon Walker 14+1, Brent Werner 3.

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: Josef Franc 12, George Stancl (Rider Replacement), Christian Henry 5, Ben Powell 2, Jason King 3, Jamie Robertson 1+1, Danny Warwick (Guest) 5.

EDINBURGH MONARCHS: Derek Sneddon 4+2, Ryan Fisher 14, James Grieves (guest) 13+1, Thomas H. Jonasson 5+1, Matthew Wethers 9, Lee Dicken (Guest) 5+1, Aaron Summers 4+2.

BERWICK BANDITS: Adrian Rymel (Rep-lecement), Norbert Magosi 4, Henning Bager 11, Guglielmo Franchetti 1, Michal Makovsky 14, Tero Aarnio 5, Adam McKinna 3+1.