Andersons Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 43

Newcastle Sapphire Engineering Diamonds 46

(Tyne Tweed Trophy – First Leg)

The Berwick Bandits went down to Newcastle Diamonds 43-46 in Saturday’s opening leg of the 2008 Tyne Tweed Trophy in a last heat decider.

Berwick’s new boys were left finding their feet for much of the meeting, affected by the rain which fell before and in the early part of the meeting leaving the track greasy before it dried in the latter half.

Newcastle were generally more adept riding the wet conditions, but even the experienced Henry got caught drifting wide on bend two in Heat 13 and ending up a poor last.

The match see-sawed too and fro, always close throughout with the Diamonds just giving that impression they were just going to shade it overall.

In 2007 Berwick’s bug bear was losing tight matches on last heat deciders, and in this match it was just the same as nine League encounters of last season.

One point up with the last heat to go, guest Burza made a ghastly gate, as Makovsky also made a sleep start and Newcastle’s Czech track experts jetted off for a match winning away maximum.

Berwick Promoter Peter Waite said: “I think we saw a lot of promise with the new guys and Franchetti was worth a whole lot more points than the two he scored.

“He, along with Aarnio and Magosi will soon learn the quick and safe lines around this track and once they do I think we will have a team capable of good wins.

“McKinna also put in a lot of effort for his two points whilst Rymel and skipper Makovsky were as solid as you’d expect for this early meeting. The future’s bright and I can promise the final rider in the squad very soon!”

Newcastle Promoter and Team Manager George English said: “This was a good start for us on a wet track, and while some of the lads didn’t tear up the track, they all rode with steadiness scoring sensible points where they could.

“Pepe and George had good nights although we all know there’s a lot better to come from Christian as captain. It was difficult to give a real appraisal on tonight’s showing but the second leg will be more revealing.”

HEAT ONE – Following the final down pour of the evening the track was a touch gooey, but all riders gave it their all with Franchetti taking the early lead with Rymel joining him up front by passing Henry on bend two.

Franchetti tired rapidly however, slowing dramatically on lap three allowing his partner past then Henry too on the third bend of lap three. (4-2 / 4-2)

HEAT TWO – Robertson and Stoddart of the visitors shot out ahead of the home reserves and took an unassailable lead to the flag. (1-5 / 5-7)

HEAT THREE – Again this was pretty much a gate to flag heat in the soggy conditions, but Aarnio was getting more confident with each lap, pressing well behind Franc latterly as guest Burza’s win levelled the match. (4-2 / 9-9)

HEAT FOUR – Another fairly quiet race, but McKinna became the season’s first faller when he went down on the second bend of the opening lap. (2-4 / 11-13)

HEAT FIVE – This looked like being another race similar to the above, but the Finn wasn’t finished and wound on the power to pass Powell on a thrilling third lap to level the meeting again. (4-2 / 15-15)

HEAT SIX – With Rymel and Stancl out in front, Robertson concentrated on keeping the Italian Franchetti at the back, but on lap three Berwick’s new favourite took the local lad down the back straight to take Berwick back into the lead. (4-2 / 19-17)

HEAT SEVEN – Franc made a fine gate to lead very well on lap one, but his old team mate and adversary Makovsky put in a great chase and passing Franc on the final bend of lap three.

Magosi also took a good point over a very effective King as the home side extended its lead. (4-2 / 23-19)

HEAT EIGHT – This was Newcastle’s chance of a recovery as Franchetti and McKinna made a complete hash of bend two, drifting wide so the Newcastle pair of Powell and Stoddart sailed past for an eventual away maximum once Stoddart took McKinna on lap three. (1-5 / 24-24)

HEAT NINE – The ninth race got off to a controversial start with Robertson and Burza banging into each other hard on bend one which broke Robertson’s chain and also brought Burza to a halt as Stancl and Aarnio grabbed the points. (2-3 / 26-27)

HEAT 10 – Rymel and Franchetti gated fast, but the Italian hit the grip again and drifted wide on bend two ending up at the back of the field. (2-4 / 28-31)

HEAT 11 – This was Magosi’s turn to follow the Franchetti line and bounce off the second bend fence, but the Hungarian fell to be excluded leaving a gate to flag win for Makovsky in the re run over Powell and Henry. (3-3 / 31-34)

HEAT 12 – Franc made a superb gate to lead, but McKinna took his turn to flounder in the deeper grip on bend two, falling but remounted.

Robertson gave up virtually on lap three but McKinna fell again on the same lap getting up as Robertson realised he could grab a point, which the Diamond did when he went round McKinna on bend three of the final lap. (2-4 / 33-38)

HEAT 13 – As Makovsky flew out to lead the 13th, the chasing Henry took his turn to bounce off the second bend fence ending up at the back in a Berwick heat advantage. (4-2 / 37-40)

HEAT 14 – The referee awarded the 14th race when Stoddart fell on bend two of the third lap when Magosi had originally taken the lead, soon joined and passed up front by his guest partner, Burza and Berwick were in front with one race to go. (5-1 / 42-41)

HEAT 15 – Franc and Stancl obviously wanted the win more than the Bandits here as Newcastle’s Czechs shot out of the gate like bullets as Makovsky took a sleepy gate and Burza even slower, so much so the guest retired from the race late on giving the visitors an away win. (1-5 / 43-46)