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Newcastle Diamonds v Glasgow Tigers
Premier League, 29 August 2005
Brough Park Stadium, Newcastle

Newcastle 47
1Josef Franc133R2* ..91
2Kristian Lund0132*. ..61
3Lubos TomicekR222. ..60
4Phil Morris21*2.. ..51
5James Grieves33333 ..150
6Jamie Birkinshaw30F00 ..30
7(g)Adam McKinna2*100. ..31
Glasgow 43
1George Stancl3321*. ..91
2Trent Leverington2*121*. ..62
3Claus Kristensen11*M3. ..51
4Stefan Ekberg32X30 ..80
5Shane Parker22321 ..100
6Adam Roynon1001. ..20
7James CockleFx01*11 ..31

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

After a terrible week with a thrashing on the Isle of Wight and a heavy defeat at Glasgow Newcastle had the chance to make amends in this return Premier League match. They were without Jaimie Robertson who was injured at Glasgow and had Adam McKinna at number 7 instead. Glasgow were at full strength again.

The Diamonds could not have got off to a worse start as they conceded a 1-5 to George Stancl and Trent Leverington in heat 1. James Cockle fell on the second bend in heat 2 and was excluded from the rerun in which James Birkinshaw and Adam McKinna took a 5-1 to level the scores with McKinna impressively rounding Adam Roynon on the second bend. Glasgow were back in front again in heat 3 with a 2-4. Stefan Ekberg and Claus Kristensen looked as if they might score the third maximum of the match when they both gated but Phil Morris got through for second place as Lubos Tomicek suffered an engine failure resulting in a 2-4 for the Tigers. It was all square again in heat 4 with a Diamonds 4-2 when James Grieves beat Shane Parker with Adam McKinna taking third place from James Cockle. The score after four heats was therefore 12-12.

Back in front went Glasgow again in heat 5 with another 2-4. James Birkinshaw replaced Phil Morris as George Stancl won again from Lubos Tomicek with Leverington just holding off Birkinshaw’s late challenge. Newcastle continued the pattern by squaring the match in heat 6. Josef Franc beat Shane Parker with Kristian Lund in third place for a 4-2 then James Grieves won heat 7 for a shared heat from Ekberg and Kristensen as Birkinshaw fell at the back to keep the scores level. There was no change in heat 8 either as Kristian Lund beat Trent Leverington. At the back Adam McKinna went too wide on the fourth bend to allow James Cockle through. The score after eight heats was 24-24.

Heat 9 was shared too. Although Lubos Tomicek gated Shane Parker passed him at the end of the second lap. Phil Morris finished third. In heat 10 Claus Kristensen was excluded for delaying the start of the race and was replaced by Adam Roynon. When the race did start Stefan Ekberg pushed Josef Franc wide and the Newcastle rider pulled up. Ekberg was excluded for his efforts and Frank and Lund took a 5-1 to open up a four point gap for the Diamonds at 32-28. James Grieves won heat 11 by passing Stancl on the second lap with Leverington third for another shared heat but Glasgow pulled two points back in heat 12 when Claus Kristensen beat Lubos Tomicek with James Cockle third for a 2-4. The score after 12 heats was 37-35.

James Grieves won heat 13 and looked to be heading for a 5-1 with his partner, Josef Franc. However Shane Parker passed Franc who then had an engine failure while holding third place. This meant that the race was shared and there were still only two points between the teams. Then in heat 14 the match was all square again. Stefan Ekberg and James Cockle led but Phil Morris passed Cockle for the vital second place. The 2-4 for Glasgow tied the scores at 42-42 leaving a last heat decider in heat 15. In the last heat James Grieves and Josef Franc made the gate and were never challenged so the Diamonds took a four point win.

Match Report by Merlin