MATCH REPORT: South West and Wales off the mark in Newport

The South West and Wales region hosted the fourth round of the new Supertrax Battle of Britain against the North and Scotland at the well appointed Newports Sports Village on Sunday.

The elite junior class took to the track first, which resulted in a controversial victory for the North and Scotland by 4 points in a dramatic ending.

The early exchanges were being won by the visitors, showing more pace to the first corner. Ed Morton and Adam Watson continually impressing, but the home team responded well with the Garnett/Ellis and Goward/Tinsdsle pairings hitting their straps, and with Jeffery  and Smith combining well in heat 10, the boys in orange took a 4 point lead.

However, back came the North in heats 11 and 12 to lead again by 2 points. Then the referee gave a red card in the pits to the home team’s Callum Goward, which was debated for 10 minutes, which meant the match was effectively over and the North and Scotland took the points after a fine meeting.

South West and Wales 65
J.Ellis 5, B.Tinsdale 13+2, F.Garnett 18, S.Bennett 5+1, C.Smith 5+1, W.Jeffery 18, C.Goward 5.

North and Scotland 69
E.Morton 18, K.Mohammadi 5, A.Watson 13+2, D.Campbell 8, M.Evans 14+2, M.Preston 10, L.Foxley 1, N.Morton DNR.

Referee Mike Legge (Dorset)

The respective elite men’s teams took to the track, in front of a sizeable crowd, boosted from some motor speedway fans on their way home from the British GP at Cardiff.

The scores were tied after 4 rides, with the North’s Jake Read opening with 2 fine wins on the fast grippy welsh raceway, then home riders Dale Clark and Zac Payne combined well to get a maximum in heat 5, to take their team into the lead.

The visitors were struggling to get race wins and the home team looked more of a unit, with  all 8 riders contributing well, which enabled them to run out winners by 102 to 93.

Ben Mould top scored on his return for the South West and Wales region, with a fine 23 points. He recieved solid backing from Zac Payne and Steve Harris, with Dale Clark having an excellent regional debut.

Northern riders to impress were Jake Read, Ben Higham, Adam Watson and Reece Pollitt.

South West and Wales 102
W.Jeffery 13+1, Z.Payne 15+3, B.Mould 23, S.Harris 16+2, D.Hook 8, J.Harrold 10+1, C.Davies 9+1, D.Clark 8 +1.

North and Scotland 93
J.Read 18+1, E.Morton 8, B.Higham 15, A.Watson 19+2, R.Pollitt 18, K.Ramsden 8, M.Evans 4+1,  D.Campbell 3.

Referee Colin Simmons (Gwent)

Two excellent matches were witnessed and it seems the Battle of Britain is a success in its first year.


Report by Colin Simmons.