MATCH REPORT: Newport bounce back with win over Aces

The sun was shining over the track as Newport opened their home league campaign on Sunday, looking to bounce back from the 93-85 defeat to Horspath 3 weeks ago.

With Dale Clark and team manager Dan Bock coming back into the team, Newport made the experience count. Mark Carmichael taking the 4 points in the opening heat after a number of heavy tumbles for Dale in the first attempts to get racing underway.

Tensions remained high for heat 2, ending in a 4-3 in the visitors favour after Joe Lewis slipped a pedal off the start, was unable to get back in touch and was lapped in the closing stages, as the Aces fast starting Aaron Herbert raced away to the win, with Chris Davies claiming the points for second. Ben Robinson was adjudged to have left the track with both wheels by the meeting referee.

The Aces claimed a 7-3 in heat 3 from the experienced pairing of Dave Murphy and Rob Geach, over Callum Goward who was in close contention with the Aces pair for the full four laps. This result put Newport on the back foot with the Aces taking a 15-12 lead after the opening three races.

Two drawn heats and two narrow heat advantages for Newport in the next four rides allowed the home side to take the lead, stretching it by a further two points over heats 8 and 9 to lead at the interval by 45 to 42.

The momentum stayed with the home team, as the visitors were unable to take a heat advantage during the second half. Aaron Herbert’s exclusion in heat 12 for use of the leg against the pairing of Carmichael and Clark only added to the pressure on the Devon side.

Perfectly timed reserve rides for Adam Bennett combining for 7-3s with Chris Davies and maximum-man, Mark Carmichael in heats 12 and 16 respectively, helping Newport race to a 100-76 scoreline at the final chequered flag.

Newport 100
Dale Clark 12+2, Mark Carmichael 20, Chris Davies 17+1, Joe Lewis 9, Dan Bock 9+1, Callum Goward 10+1, Adam Bennett 18+2, Colin Simmons 5

Exeter 76
Ben Stanbury 5, Connor Tucker 14+1, Ben Robinson 4, Aaron Herbert 15+1, Dave Murphy 14, Rob Geach 9+2, Craig Nethercott 10, Lauren Hookway 5

Referee – Nick Evans