Newcastle Diamonds v Berwick Bandits

NEWCASTLE pulled off their first win of the Championship campaign by edging out Berwick 47-42 at Brough Park.

The Bandits were without Leon Flint after his incident on Saturday and also lost Ty Proctor in a Heat 2 crash.

But they still forced a close contest and took the meeting to a last-heat decider, where Paul Starke and guest Kyle Howarth secured a 4-2 but were split by Berwick No.1 Chris Harris to give the visitors a league point.

Starke top-scored for the Diamonds with 12 points and Howarth added 10+1, whilst Ricky Wells (12+1) and Harris (11) led the way for the Bandits.

Newcastle co-promoter Dave Tinning said: “We had to work so hard for this win tonight, a win which has finally given us points in the Championship table helped along the way by a guest who can score us points!

“Thanks to Kyle for his excellent efforts. Paul also had a night to be proud of with his 12 points. We’re getting there, albeit slowly and surely, but bit by bit, we’re getting there.”

Berwick boss Gary Flint said: “This was a tough night on Tyneside, very hard going and very hard work for us. We witnessed some huge crashes on a tricky surface but, the Bandits battled on to claim a league point.”

NEWCASTLE 47: Paul Starke 12, Kyle Howarth 10+1, Matthew Wethers 7+2, Max Clegg 7+1, James Wright 6+1, Lee Complin 5+1, George Congreve 0.
BERWICK 42: Ricky Wells 12+1, Chris Harris 11, Kyle Bickley 7+2, Theo Pijper 7+1, Jye Etheridge 5, Ty Proctor 0, Luke Crang (no.8) 0, Leon Flint r/r.

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE