NEWS ARCHIVE

STARS HIT BADLY BY CALL-UP

23 June 2008

Newcastle 50, King's Lynn 42

Lynn's Premier League winning run ended yesterday at Brough Park.

Rob Lyon's outfit was hit by a late World U21 Team Cup call up for Aussie Kozza Smith - Conference guest Adam McKinna drafted in for the visitors.

In form Smith top scored for his country to help them progress from their German qualifier but Lynn's hopes of a double faded after Kevin Doolan had anchored an opening maximum.

Kozza: called up by Australia

Doolan (paid 15) led from the front while Smith's fellow reserve John Oliver posted his best away score this season after a long injury lay off.

“I think with our full team out we would have fancied winning this one,” said Lyon. “But there's still plenty of meetings left and there was some positives to take away. John Oliver was very encouraging. Shaun (Tacey) and Kevin also went well but it just wasn't our night. We were always playing catch up. After the 5-1 win in the opening race it went downhill from there. We were ten adrift, managed to get it back to six or eight, but without ever really looking like we could go on and win it.

“I've been told Kozza scored 13 points to help get them through over in Germany. That is obviously great for him but for us it was unfortunately one of those things. We had to track a Conference guest because he's currently on the lowest average and Adam didn't manage to score in the meeting.”

Diamonds' top man Jason King trapped in front of Tomas Topinka to cancel out Lynn's early advantage - Newcastle guest Jesper Kristiansen backing up the impressive Jerran Hart in the reserves. King edged an intriguing heat five tussle with Doolan but Tacey cashed in on George's Stancl's retirement.

Lynn traded share heats to stay within six on the scoresheets before Hart repelled Topinka in heat seven. Tacey cut back inside Diamonds' guest Kristiansen - Oliver pocketing a point in a reserve switch.

Stancl flew around the bottom boards to dive inside Rusty Harrison but Doolan's tactical foray cut the deficit again. Stancl fended off compatriot Topinka but Oliver downed Hart for the minor spoils to set the tone for the closing stages.

Doolan's heat 13 flag was squared by the Diamonds duo. King's win in the penultimate race clinched victory but the slick Doolan inflicted King's first defeat of the night in the finale.

Diamonds: Franc 11, Stoddart 2, Stancl 9, King 11+3, Henry 8+1, Hart 6, Kristiansen 3+1.

Stars: Doolan 15, Tacey 7+3, Topinka 7, Lambert 1+1, Harrison 4+1, Oliver 8+2, McKinna 0.