MATCH REPORT: Galvanised Newport get off the mark

Newport won the bottom of the Elite League table clash against Ipswich at Newport’s Sports Village by 92 points to 85.

Both teams were packed with home grown local riders and they produced a fine spectacle. The home team made the early running with Harrold and Herbert prominent, but Ipswich suffered two costly exclusions in the first half, which meant they went into the interval behind by 4 points.

A maximum return from the Evans/Davies pair stretched the Welsh team’s lead to a comfortable 9 points. Newport were riding well to orders, just claiming drawn heats in the next 3 races, but the eagles stormed back in heat 14 with a well worked Rumbold/Roberts maximum to reduce their arrears to just 3 points, but Newport were in no mood to lose this advantage and ran out winners by 7 points after an entertaining meeting to get off the bottom of the Elite League.

Newport 92 – J. Harrold 13+4, O.Sidwick 11+1, M. Carmichael 14+1, A. Bennett 5, A. Herbert 14, N. Evans 12+2, D. Bock 11, C. Davies 10, S. Bennett 2+1.

Ipswich 85 – A. Harvey 2, A. Peck 14+1, R. Fellgett 13, J. Brooke 15, C. Rumbold 13+2, A. Hill 13+1, F. Harris 5, L. Roberts 10+1.

Newport also took the Combination points, winning by 92 to 73. Youngsters Sean Bennett and Andrew Baker impressing for the home team, with Richard Fellgett and Lewis Roberts unbeaten for the eagles.

Newport (56+36) 92 – C. Simmons 10+2, A. Baker 10, J. Sidwick 7, K. Greaves 8 J. Brosnan 7+2, S.Bennett 14.
Ipswich 73 – R. Fellgett 20, B. Clark 4, P. Clark 6, L. Roberts 19+1, F. Harris 13+2, A. Harvey 11+1.