Team Websites for News and More Detailed Match Reports:
Workington Comets Website (Official)

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

Workington Comets v Newcastle Diamonds
Premier Trophy (Group), 02 April 2005
Derwent Park, Workington

Workington 64
1Carl Stonehewer33323 ..140
2Kevin LittleM111. ..30
3Scott Robson2*2*32*. ..93
4Kauko Nieminen332*2*1 ..112
5Shaun Tacey2*321*. ..82
6Tony Dart3103. ..70
7James Wright12*333 ..121
Newcastle 30
1Phil Morris016^32 ..120
2Christian Henry2021. ..50
3Claus Kristensen12210 ..60
4Josef Franc0001. ..10
5James Grieves122^0. ..50
6Lubos Tomicek10R0. ..10
7Jamie Robertson000R. ..00

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

High-flying Workington were at home to Newcastle in the other northern section match. Both teams were at full strength.

Well what can you say about this match as the brand new Newcastle team were torn apart by the Comets. In fact the Diamonds’ score was inflated by 4 points thanks to TRs so they really only scored 26 points.

After an opening heat 4-2, which saw Kevin Little excluded under the two minute rule and Christian Henry splitting Carl Stonehewer and James Wright, Workington scored four consecutive 5-1s, followed by three 4-2s and a 5-2 as James Grieves took a TR in heat 9 for an extra point. Another 4-2 in heat 10 took the score to 45-16 as only Christian Henry (twice), Claus Kristensen (twice) and James Grieves (once) had managed a second place by way of resistance.

Then came Newcastle’s ‘oasis in the desert’ in heat 11 when Phil Morris won a heat while on a TR too! He beat Shaun Tacey and, with Christian Henry landing the third place point, the heat went to the Diamonds by 2-7 to take the score to a more respectable 47-23. However Workington took two more 5-1s in the next three heats although Phil Morris won another heat in heat 13 for a share of the points to ruin Carl Stonehewer’s maximum hopes.

Another 5-1 went Workington’s way in heat 14 before Phil Morris split the home pairing of Stonehewer and Nieminen for a final heat 4-2 which saw the Diamonds hit the 30 point mark, a feat which had looked beyond them after heat 10. This result makes Workington ‘favourites’ for the bonus tomorrow (Sunday).

Match Report by Merlin