Diamonds fall to wizardry of the Witches

NEWCASTLE Diamonds’ league programme got off to a disastrous start last night as they were crushed 60-29 by Ipswich Witches.

Only Ashley Morris of the Diamonds emerged with a great deal of credit from a desperately poor performance by a side that won at Ipswich as recently as 2015.

Morris (pictured) was Newcastle’s only heat winner, commanding the all-reserves race from start to finish, and also winning the eighth in which Matthew Wethers finished third to give the Diamonds a 4-2, their only race advantage of the night.

Guest Michael Palm Toft had three second places but suffered mechanical problems in his fourth outing and was not seen again.

Comeback man Lewis Rose fared even worse, failing to finish any of his first three races before being replaced by reserve Carl Wilkinson.

Skipper Ludvig Lindgren’s wretched run at the top of the order continued as he notched just three (paid four) from five races, though an engine problem caused him to drop out of his first.

Wethers continued to battle for every point, but the sheer power of the Witches’ top five, with former Newcastle men Danny King and guest Lewis Kerr each recording paid maximums and Rory Schlein scorching to a four-race full 12-point maximum, was awesome.

The Diamonds need to rapidly re-group before a big test on Sunday when Sheffield Tigers, favourites to win the Northern Championship Shield group, come to Byker (6.30pm).

IPSWICH (60): Danny King 14, Cameron Heeps 12, Rory Schlein 12, Lewis Kerr 10, Danyon Hume 6, Michael Hartel 4, Connor Mountain 2.

NEWCASTLE (29): Ashley Morris 12, Michael Palm Toft 6, Matthew Wethers 4, Carl Wilkinson 4, Ludvig Lindgren 3, Lewis Rose 0.