Team Websites for News and More Detailed Match Reports:
Newport Wasps Website (Unofficial)
Newport Wasps Website (2nd Unofficial)

Live Updates for a Current or Recent match: Live Speedway Updates
Discussion on Matches and Other Speedway Issues: Speedway Forum

Newport Wasps v Glasgow Tigers
Premier League, 02 June 2006
Queensway Meadows, Newport

Newport 44
1(g)Chris Neath23332 ..130
2Chris Schramm01*2*31 ..72
4Tony Atkin321*32 ..111
5Carl Wilkinson232Fx0 Fx.70
6Joel Parsons202*00 X.41
7Billy Legg1*01.. ..21
Glasgow 46
1Danny Bird33321 ..120
2David McAllan101*.. ..21
3Lee Dicken2F01*. ..31
4Kauko Nieminen1*123. ..71
5Shane Parker3131*3 ..111
6Robert Ksiezak300.. ..30
7James CockleF122*2 1.81

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

Newport were again without both Craig Watson and Neil Collins. They had Chris Neath as a guest at number 1 and used Rider Replacement at number 3 but were further handicapped by the introduction of the new set of averages which meant that Neil Collins had moved to number three in the averages from number two with the result that Chris Neath was no longer eligible for a R/R ride. Billy Legg was preferred to Sam Hurst at number 7 for this match Glasgow were at full strength.

There is a ‘history’ between the two clubs in this fixture and tonight’s clash was no exception. The Newport fans were incensed by some of the refereeing decisions and there were some ugly scenes at the end of the match which needed some protection for the referee as the bad feeling threatened to spill over.

Glasgow hit the front from the start. Danny Bird won the opening heat from Chris Neath and was supported by David McAllan for a 2-4. Robert Ksiezak gated to win heat 2 but James Cockle fell as the heat was shared as was heat 3. Although Tony Atkins won the race, Lee Dicken and Kauko Nieminen filled the minor places before Glasgow increased their lead in heat 4. Shane Parker won the race from Carl Wilkinson with James Cockle taking third for another 2-4 which took the score after four races to 10-14.

Heat 5 was awarded as David McAllan fell twice and was excluded. Danny Bird took his second race win so the heat was shared. However Glasgow’s progress was brought to an abrupt halt when Chris Neath and Chris Schramm gated to take a 5-1 ahead of Shane Parker which levelled the scores at 18-18. The Wasps followed that with another 5-1 in heat 7 with Carl Wilkinson and Joel Parsons heading home Kauko Nieminen to put the home side four points ahead. Chris Schramm won heat 8 but James Cockle and David McAllan shared the points with the score moving to 26-22 after eight races.

There was no change in heat 9 won by Shane Parker from Wilkinson and Atkin but in heat 10 Newport stretched their lead to six points. Chris Neath won from Nieminen and Schramm took third for a 4-2 but it all went wrong for the Wasps in heat 11. Carl Wilkinson fell and was excluded from the rerun which left Billy Legg to face Danny Bird and James Cockle. The result was a 1-5 to the Tigers and the lead was cut to two points. Tony Atkin won heat 12 but James Cockle and Lee Dicken followed him home ahead of Joel Parsons for a shared heat which took the score to 37-35.

The vital heat 13 saw Chris Neath beat Glasgow’s top two of Bird and Parker to keep the Wasps two points in front but Kauko Nieminen beat Tony Atkin after an exciting heat 14 with Atkin scraping the fence to find the drive to make the pass. The controversy started at the back though as Joel Parsons dived under James Cockle. Cockle slid off and the referee angered the home support by excluding the Wasps man. Cockle seemed anxious to ‘discuss’ the incident with Parsons and things began to look nasty. This result gave Glasgow a 2-4 to level the match going into the last race. In heat 15 Carl Wilkinson came to grief on the first corner but there was no ‘all four back’ from the referee to the dismay of the home fans as Wilkinson was excluded. It looked like Chris Neath had rescued a point for the Wasps as he led the rerun but Shane Parker had other ideas and passed Neath to win the heat while Danny Bird picked up the gift point at the back for the 2-4 which gave Glasgow a two point win.

Match Report by Merlin