MATCH REPORT: Aces demolish Newport to start on top

Wednesfield Aces started their 2015 Elite League season yesterday afternoon with a massive win against a gallant Newport team.

The Visitors heat leader Mark Carmichael was excluded in the first heat for moving whilst under starters orders and the aces collected a 7-2 heat win. Wednesfield then went on to record another five 7-3 heat advantages, with Newport claiming the inside grids as early as the fifth race.

Newport did fight back in heat seven and eight, with two drawn heats, but Wednesfield rounded off the first half with another 7-3 from Johnson & Jewkes. Half time score Wednesfield 59 Newport 30.

The Aces started the second half where they left off, with another 7-3 from Mould & Smith. Newport’s Nicky Evans took a nasty fall in the next heat whilst challenging for a position and had to retire from the race giving the aces a 7-2 win.

Newport kept battling away and got their reward in heat 12, after Lee Aris was excluded at the start line and Newport raced to a 2-7 heat win, with Sidwick taking the 4 points and Arron Herbert having a battle royal with Scott Doherty to clinch second place after both riders had hit the deck and remounted.

The match then seemed to hit a glutt of exclusions with Newport’s Dan Bock moving at the start of heat 13. Mark Carmichael did lead Mould and Jewkes but Ben Mould produced a class pass on the final bend to give the aces a 6-3.

Heat 14 saw Paul Heard excluded for using excessive force and Jacob Soper & Nicky Evans secured a 2-7 heat advantage for Newport. Next heat it was Newport’s Jack Hibberd’s turn to receive an exclusion for excessive force, with the Aces’ Matt Smith & Bobby McMillan taking full advantage with a 7-2. The next heat was drawn and heat 17 saw the Aces pile on the points, with another 7-3. The final heat was squared off 5-5. During the match the Aces utilised Brandon Whetton & Lee Kemp riding at 9 and 10.

Wednesfield Aces 107
Lee Aris 13, Scott Doherty 6, Bobby McMillan 16, Paul Heard 14, Chris Jewkes 8, Ben Mould 16, Ricki Johnson 14, Matt Smith 15, Brandon Whetton 4, Lee Kemp 1

Newport 67
Mark Carmichael 12, Dan Bock 5, Ollie Sidwick 12, Arron Herbert 9, Nicky Evans 8, Jack Hibberd 6, Jamie Whetton 7, Jacob Soper 8

Elite League Combination

The Combination match was run in good spirit by both teams but the Aces having just a bit more fire power than Newport and using eight riders to the visitors
six Newport also giving points away using riders from the first team match

Wednesifled Aces 94 (78+16)
Brandon Whetton 14, Harry Everiss 6, Haydn Rowley 9, Mark Winwood 12, Nathan Groves 12, Lee Kemp 13, Dave Meanley 7, Carl Parfitt 5

Newport 51
Arron Herbert 14, Jamie Whetton 7, Chris Davis 9, Will Cartwright 9, Colin Simmonds 7, Kevin Greaves 5