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Kings Lynn Stars v Newcastle Diamonds
Premier League, 25 August 2006
Norfolk Arena, Kings Lynn

Kings Lynn 62
1Kevin Doolan1332*. ..91
2Troy Bachelor32*32*3 ..132
3Trevor Harding012*1. ..41
4Daniel Nermark2333. ..110
5Tomas Topinka32332* ..131
6Chris Mills302*1. ..61
7John Oliver2*R13. ..61
Newcastle 31
1George Stancl221R. ..50
2Manuel Hauzinger002R. ..20
3Christian Henry32^F2F ..70
4Josef Franc1314^1 ..100
5James Grieves2111. ..50
6Adam McKinna0000. ..00
7Jamie Robertson11*0R. ..21

* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).

Both King’s Lynn and Newcastle were at full strength for this match.

The matches between King’s Lynn and Newcastle have looked doomed this season as the Diamonds, sponsored by rent-a-cloud, yet again brought the rain showers which seem to have followed them from track to track this season. This time the meeting was completed however as no doubt the rain, exhausted by its efforts, couldn’t quite summon up enough water to put paid to the match.

Newcastle weren’t doing too badly up till heat 8 at which point they trailed by nine points but they lost by 33-11 over the last seven heats with four of those points coming from a TR. Once again King’s Lynn topped the 60 point mark – the seventh time in a league match from nine home fixtures.

George Stancl split the Batchelor/Doolan pairing in the opening heat as the Stars kicked off with a 4-2 followed by a 5-1 in the reserves race for an early six point lead. At this point the rain started and Newcastle, now in familiar circumstances, celebrated with a 2-4 in heat 3 when Christian Henry beat Daniel Nermark, the only point Nermark dropped in the match, with Josef Franc third. Tomas Topinka won heat 4 but, with John Oliver suffering an engine failure, the Diamonds took a share of the points and the score after four races stood at 14-10.

Stancl took another second place in heat 5 behind Nermark for another 4-2 to the home side before Doolan and Batchelor added a 5-1 ahead of James Grieves to open up a ten point lead. Christian Henry took a TR in heat 7 but Newcastle had given the TR to the wrong man! It was Josef Franc who won the heat from Tomas Topinka. Still Henry finished third so Newcastle gained an extra point in a 2-5 heat advantage to cut the gap to seven points. Troy Batchelor won heat 8 but Manuel Hauzinger passed John Oliver for second place as the Stars took another 4-2 opening the gap between the sides to 9 points and taking the score to 29-20.

It was really ‘cheerio’ from Newcastle after that as the Diamonds’ riders watched their opponents rattle up another cricket score. King’s Lynn banged in three consecutive 5-1s over the next three heats with Nermark and Harding beating Grieves in heat 9, Doolan and Batchelor beating Franc in heat 10 and Topinka and Mills beating Stancl in heat 11. Heat 10 was a good race however with early race leader Josef Franc being overhauled by Kevin Doolan then Troy Batchelor as the Newcastle man wobbled in the wet conditions. Chris Mills did well to hold off George Stancl in heat 11 then came another good race in heat 12 as Chris Mills chased and passed Christian Henry for a fine win. Trevor Harding took third and the 4-2 took the score to 48-25.

At this point there was a track inspection as the rain got worse but it was decided to continue. In heat 13 Kevin Doolan passed James Grieves to join Tomas Topinka up front for another 5-1 then Josef Franc took a TR in heat 14. He finished second to Daniel Nermark so the race was shared 4-4 before Batchelor and Topinka finished off proceedings with another 5-1 in the last heat. This gave the Stars a 31 point lead which makes the bonus point a forlorn hope for Newcastle when the sides meet at Brough Park.

Match Report by Merlin