Thursday 2 September 2004

TEAM ARTDEANS SWINDON SPROCKETS 58

NEWCASTLE ULTRAFAST GEMS 37

Conference League

Swindon won 97-90 on aggregate

Programme changes:-

Ht 1: R/R Warwick

Ht 5: TR Meldrum (Double points)

Ht 6: R/R Johnson

Ht 8: R/R Purchase

Ht 9: TR Robertson (Double points)

Ht 10: R/R Purchase

Ht 11: Sharples replaced Pickering

Following their excellent victory over Boston just five days previously, the Team Artdeans Sprockets were back on track at Blunsdon in the first of a Conference League double bill against long-distance travellers Newcastle. The weather, for once in a rain ravaged season, was kind and after a perfect summer’s day, it was difficult to think of a better way to spend the evening than viewing speedway in the comfortable Abbey Stadium surroundings. Swindon had again hoped to track Mark Thompson, but following a practice spin at Mildenhall, the keen Essex boy’s injured wrist had unfortunately swollen up and ruled him out of action.

In spite of that, the available troops really got stuck in and not only emerged triumphant, but also claimed the aggregate bonus point. In what was a tremendous showing, both Chris Johnson and Nathan Irwin recorded unbeaten tallies, while Simon Walker, Malcolm Holloway and Danny Warwick were paid for double figure returns. Maximum men Johnson and Irwin were particularly outstanding though, with the former revealing his class throughout, while the latter’s razzle-dazzle first-ever full-house performance further enhanced his growing reputation amongst the regular Blunsdon patrons.

Wellie stole a march on David Meldrum from the gate in heat one and was never troubled on his way to a fine success from the former Berwick racer. Meanwhile, with ‘Dependable Danny’ in third spot, Swindon opened with a 4-2 advantage. In the reserves’ race, Irwin began his maximum march by swooping from gate four to round the field exiting the second bend. It was a formality from there on, as the Sussex boy defeated Byron ‘Boris’ Bekker, while Jordan Frampton rode steadily in third place to increase the Team Artdeans Sprockets’ lead.

The spectacular Simon Walker charged to victory in heat three, while Warwick made it a magical ‘fiver’ after hounding down and passing John Branney off the second bend of lap three. Johno continued on his merry way in heat four, with Irwin joining him on a 5-1 after determinedly shaking off Jamie Robertson on a super inside line entering the back straight for the first time. Meldrum’s  six-point tactical ride closed Newcastle’s deficit in heat five, but was immediately countered by a full quota of points from Holloway and Johnson. In what was a re-run sixth heat, Johno was passed by his flying skipper off the second bend and while Wellie steamed to victory, the lanky racer continually warded off the strongly challenging Robertson throughout.

Out once again, Johnson stylishly took heat seven from John Branney and Carl Downs, prior to an eighth heat that had everyone gasping in amazement. James Purchase resolutely made it to the first turn ahead of visitors’ Paul Sharples and Michael Pickering, while Irwin brought up the rear. The positions remained unaltered, whilst Swindon’s number seven gained ground and weighed up his options. Then, on lap three, the Cuckfield-born speedster boldly made his move, simultaneously rounding Paul Sharples, while also driving inside Michael Pickering as they exited the fourth bend. There was an audible gasp from the terracing as Irwin made contact with Pickering’s machine on his way through, with the resultant 5-1 warmly greeted by an appreciative audience. What a breathtaking manoeuvre and one of the finest pieces of racing seen at Blunsdon all season! To cap it all, the ‘fiver’ put Swindon ahead on aggregate and the bonus point was there for the taking.

Walker and Warwick held sway from the gate in heat nine, but the race was to end in a 4-4 draw after Robertson (taking a tactical ride) had driven inside Span on the third bend of lap one. Holloway posted his third straight success in heat ten, with Branney and Downs splitting the points. However, for much of the race it looked as though Purchase would finish third, but a wide exit from the fourth bend on lap three put paid to his scoring opportunity, with Downs gleefully nipping past on the inside.

‘Jester Johno’ showed his ever-growing maturity in heat eleven, driving Meldrum wide on the first corner, before superbly repelling his more experienced opponent for the rest of the race. Walker and Irwin combined for Swindon’s fifth 5-1 in the next race, as the mega-popular reserve completed his maiden maximum, much to the approval of the Blunsdon faithful. Johnson surged off the second bend to link with Holloway in heat thirteen, before taking the foremost position later on the opening lap. Cutting a dash, ‘Victor’ hustled past Wellie at the beginning of lap two, before setting off in pursuit of Johno. Quite a race developed thereafter, but once again the tall-in-the-saddle Swindon representative showed his mettle to take the chequered flag.

The Geordie’s gained their only heat advantage of the night in heat fourteen, with Sharples winning all the way from Warwick, while Branney mopped up the odd-point. With the bonus point safely wrapped up, Swindon elected to give Purchase a run-out in heat fifteen, alongside the ever-keen ‘Danny Boy’. The visitors unsurprisingly plumped for the powerful pairing of Robertson and Meldrum, with the former jumping ahead from the start. Meldrum duly cut inside Span on the third bend and to all intents and purposes, it looked like the Gems would collect a 5-1. However, that notion went pear-shaped when Robertson shed a primary chain at the start of the final lap, with the Swindon duo happy to accept a fortuitous share of the points.          

MATCH REPORT BY ROBERT BAMFORD