Team Websites for News and More Detailed Match Reports:
Newcastle Diamonds Website (Unofficial)
Live Updates for a Current or Recent match: Live Speedway Updates
Discussion on Matches and Other Speedway Issues: Speedway Forum
Newcastle Diamonds v Workington Comets
KO Cup (1st Round), 28 May 2006
Brough Park Stadium, Newcastle
| 1 | George Stancl | 3 | 3 | 2* | 0 | . | . | . | 8 | 1 |
| 2 | Manuel Hauzinger | 1 | 1 | 2* | 3 | . | . | . | 7 | 1 |
| 3 | Christian Henry | 3 | 2* | 2 | 2 | . | . | . | 9 | 1 |
| 4 | Josef Franc | 1 | 3 | 1* | 2 | 2* | . | . | 9 | 2 |
| 5 | James Grieves | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | . | . | 13 | 0 |
| 6(g) | Sean Stoddart | 0 | 0 | 0 | . | . | . | . | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Jamie Robertson | 3 | 1* | 3 | 1* | 1* | . | . | 9 | 3 |
| 1 | Paul Thorp | 2 | 0 | 1* | 3 | . | . | . | 6 | 1 |
| 2 | Tomasz Piszcz | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | . | . | . | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | Ritchie Hawkins | 0 | 1* | 1 | 3 | . | . | . | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | James Wright | 2 | 4^ | 0 | 3 | 0 | . | . | 9 | 0 |
| 5 | Garry Stead | 3 | 2 | 6^ | 1 | 1 | . | . | 13 | 0 |
| 6(g) | Richie Dennis | 1* | 0 | 0 | . | . | . | . | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Aidan Collins | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | . | . | 3 | 0 |
* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).
|
Newcastle tracked the same side as last night at Workington with Sean Stoddart replacing the injured Adam McKinna at number 6. Workington again had Richie Dennis at number 6 in place of Lee Derbyshire. Newcastle opened with a 4-2 as George Stancl won from Paul Thorp. Tomasz Piszcz led from the start but was all over the place and slipped to last hitting the second bend fence in the process. Jaimie Robertson won the reserves race but it was only for a shared heat before the Diamonds added two points to their lead in heat 3. Christian Henry got up to pip James Wright on the line for the race win after an eventful heat which saw Wright in first second and third place. Josef Franc took third so the race finished as a 4-2. Garry Stead and Aidan Collins got out in front in heat 4 for what looked like a possible 1-5 but Collins, left to his own devices, was passed by both Grieves and Robertson for a shared heat taking the score to 14-10. Newcastle then struck with a 5-1 in heat 5 as Josef Franc and Christian Henry headed home Tomasz Piszcz who was so much out of control that his partner, Paul Thorp, looked scared to pass him. Now eight points in front, the Diamonds now trailed on aggregate by six points and they pulled two more back in heat 6. George Stancl made the gate to beat Garry Stead and, with Manuel Hauzinger taking the third place point, another 4-2 came Newcastle’s way. This put them 10 points ahead but they now needed to face the TRs. First up was James Wright in heat 7. James Grieves won the heat but James Wright and Ritchie Hawkins filled the minor places for a 3-5 cutting two points from the Newcastle lead. In heat 8 though the Diamonds were back in business - big time. Jaimie Robertson and Manuel Hauzinger scored a 5-1 over Aidan Collins with Tomasz Piszcz, again having trouble mastering the track, finishing last. This took the score to 31-19 and Newcastle trailed by only two points on aggregate. Workington played their second TR in heat 9 and Garry Stead obliged by winning the race from Christian Henry and Josef Franc for a 3-6 reducing Newcastle’s lead to 9 points but things were beginning to look desperate for the Comets when they conceded another 5-1 in heat 10. Manuel Hauzinger won the race while George Stancl protected him from a challenge for Ritchie Hawkins as James Wright finished last. Now Newcastle were 13 points to the good and only one behind on aggregate as the alarm bells rang in the visitors’ camp. Still the Comets stuck to their task and were clearly not in a mood to surrender. James Grieves won heat 11 passing Tomasz Piszcz the early race leader with Paul Thorp in third place for a shared race. Then Ritchie Hawkins won heat 12 from Christian Henry and Jaimie Robertson for another shared race. It was all about the aggregate score now as the tie reached fever pitch with Newcastle looking favourites with the score after 12 races 85-86 on aggregate. Workington tipped the scales back in their favour in heat 13. The unbeaten to that point George Stancl could hardly have chosen a worse moment to run a blob but he finished last as Paul Thorp won the race from James Grieves and Garry Stead. Now the Comets had a three point cushion with just two heats to go and in heat 14 there was no change when James Wright won from Franc and Robertson and a shared heat. After providing only one race winner prior to heat 12 Workington had produced three on the trot just when they needed them badly. The whole tie hinged on heat 15 with Newcastle needing a 5-1 to win on aggregate. Two points would be enough for the Comets to win through. Newcastle chose to go with James Grieves and Josef Franc, who had only scored 7 points from his four rides, while Workington went with Garry Stead and James Wright. Workington then won the toss for gate positions but in the event it was the Diamonds who celebrated success. James Grieves and Josef Franc got to the front and some excellent team riding by Grieves helped to produce the necessary 5-1 for the Diamonds. Garry Stead finished third and the Diamonds’ fans celebrations began. Phew! Match Report by Merlin |