Diamonds win at Scorpions – at long last

TEN years of fruitless trips to Scunthorpe came to a victorious end yesterday for Newcastle Diamonds, writes BARRY WALLACE.

The Tynesiders earned their first win at the Eddie Wright Raceway, with a 46-43 success completing an SGB Championship double over the Scorpions, who they also beat on Sunday at Byker.

This was only the second away win for the Diamonds this season, but with Knockout Cup quarter-final meetings with Glasgow still on the horizon, it is a tremendous confidence-booster.

Diamonds No 1 Robert Lambert was in magnificent form and was never beaten by a home man in his five races, winning four and finishing second behind guest Aaron Summers in the 13th race, a result which nudged Newcastle ahead 39-38 with two races left.

Sunday’s top Diamond, skipper Ludvig Lindgren, was again in brilliant form and won the next from Ryan Douglas to avenge an earlier defeat.

Everything depended on the final heat featuring racers nominated by their respective team managers.

Scunthorpe chose Douglas and ex-Diamond Lewis Kerr, while the choice for Diamonds boss George English was much easier with Lambert and Lindgren in such terrific touch.

Douglas was first away but Lambert, the holder of three individual championship titles this season, blasted around the outside of the Australian at the end of the second lap to race away to victory, while Lindgren took third place in a match-winning 4-2.

Overall the Diamonds provided ten race-winners, with Lindgren and super guest Summers, the Glasgow captain, who proved to be a wonderful stand-in for Steve Worrall, each bagging three.

Newcastle’s other guest, Berwick skipper Kevin Doolan, also made a valuable contribution with five (paid seven) points, which included a 5-0 win in a bizarre seventh heat when both Scorpions, Josh Auty and ex-Diamond Tero Aarnio, fell in separate incidents.

English said: “I can’t believe we’ve won here at last after something like 20 league and cup visits.

“The main thing is we deserved the win, with Lambert in sensational form and Ludvig playing a real captain’s role in fantastic fashion.”