Tapes Up: Diamonds Go Down At Edinburgh But Weather Calls A Halt

Thank to George English and the Diamonds Media Team for providing reports and pictures.

Edinburgh Monarchs 42
Newcastle Diamonds 33
(League Cup)
Abandoned after Heat 12 - rain - result stands

The Newcastle Diamonds have a strong record up at Edinburgh's Armadale Stadium, and early last night they held their own in the League Cup event.

The Diamonds' star reserve Richie Worrall become the visitors first race winner in Heat Two taking a stunning gate to win well and retain the balance with the match level at 6-6.

Ludvig Lindgren made a massive start in Heat Three but hit the deck on the second bend, receiving an exclusion for his effort, whilst in the re-run Claes Nedermark lost control mid-race and lost ground, and points, ending up at the back of a home 5-1 as Edinburgh moved ahead 11-7.

Heat Four ended on the opening bend with Richie Worrall losing control and taking his partner Stuart Robson into the fence when the pair were on a match-levelling 1-5, but the re-run took place with a bruised Robson and no Worrall who received and exclusion.

In the re-run Robson gated last but came back round Charles Wright on the last bend of the race to sneak second in the Monarchs' 4-2 with the score now 15-9 and come Heat Five, Christian Henry touched the tapes and was replaced in the third re-run in a row, by Richie Worrall.

Theo Pijper cut hardback on the second bend of the fifth to relegate both Worrall and Mark Lemon in another 3-3, and following a Heat Six and seven 4-2 the Diamonds found themselves 26-16 adrift.

Ten down and Newcastle could use their first tactical ride with Richie Worrall nominated for double points and the boy did good, shooting from the gate to win superbly over Wright in a Diamonds' 2-7, closing the gap to 28-23.

Richie's brother Steve then committed a tapes offence in Heat Nine with his brother coming in again to cover the misdemeanour, but with Pijper away for another win he could only tuck in behind Robson to share the heat 3-3 with the score now 31-26.

Nedermark took Heat 10 well, but 11 and 12 were both Monarchs' 4-2s won by Craig Cook and Pijper respectively, but mid race in the 12th the heavens opened and made the track more like an ice rink with three races still on the card to run and the result still in the balance at 42-33, which quickly ended up being the result with the weather causing the abandonment of the event, but the result stands.

Team manager George English said: "We were lucky the rain didn't come any sooner, for at least the result stands, but we were still in contention to haul it back and take a win ourselves which is always the unsatisfactory business when the weather intervenes, but Richie again deserves great praise with his paid 15 points. Great racing from the young ‘un!"