NEWS ARCHIVE
Stars in shock Premier Trophy defeat 12.04.08
King's Lynn 38, Birmingham 55
writes the Eastern Daily Press' Paddy Davitt
Ring rusty Lynn slumped to a shock Premier Trophy defeat last night at Saddlebow.
The holders' hopes of a hat trick of Trophy cup wins were left hanging by a thread after six man Birmingham wrecked Lynn's perfect start to pool three.
Birmingham also ended the hosts' dreams of an historic century of consecutive competitive home wins.
The Brummies cashed in as Lynn struggled to combat a near three week lay off and greasy track conditions - Stars' officials working overtime in a 35 minute delay before tapes up following heavy showers during the day.
Lee Smart: 17 + 2
Stars' frontline pair Tomas Topinka (paid 15) and Kevin Doolan (paid 15) fought valiantly on the night. Brummie reserve Lee Smart stole the plaudits with paid 19 from number seven - Brummies' skipper Jason Lyons a strong support act.
Topinka eased to the opener in a pedestrian 66.2 seconds - Shaun Tacey sliding off in the rear. In form reserve Simon Lambert was gifted a point after Jack Hargreaves tumbled exiting the final turn of heat two. Adam Roynan left Doolan in his slipstream with a fantastic gate in the next but Doolan cut back inside Lyons to minimise the damage. Rusty Harrison was the third home racer to hit the shale in the opening skirmishes as he powered out of turn two - Lambert swallowed up by a Brummies' tide.
Kozza Smith careered off around the bottom bend after clipping Stoke guest Mark Burrows. Doolan was left in the traps for a second time but the battling lone ranger conjured two sublime inside passes to rocket past Burrows and Smart. Topinka looked dialled in with a cool heat six cruise but team mate Tacey was well off the pace as Birmingham squared another heat. Harrison was excluded for a top bend spill. The impressive Roynan swept around the outside of John Oliver to back up Lyons.
Tacey finally anchored a first home heat advantage in the next before a collector's item for Stars' fans. Topinka emerged with the tactical helmet on off 15 metres in a bid to cut the eight point deficit on the scoresheets. Smart fended off Doolan to edge a cracker - Topinka only squeezing past Ben Barker in the final stages after the gutsy Stoke man trundled to a halt in the home straight. Topinka raised faint hopes of a second half fightback but Tacey was again cut adrift. Roynan and Burrows produced a timely max but Doolan hit back with a successful tactical foray.
Brummies' top boys Lyons and Smart stunned the home crowd with back-to-back maxs to seal the priceless pool three away win. Birmingham skipper Lyons fittingly claimed the finale with Doolan outwitting Roynan in a fiery scrap for third.
Stars: Topinka 14+1, Tacey 3, Doolan 14+1, Smith 0, Harrison 0, Oliver 5, Lambert 3+1.
Brummies: Burrows 4+3, Lyons 14, Roynan 11+3, Barker 6+1, Hargreaves 3+1, Smart 17+2.
Lynn bid to bounce back in their opening Premier League fixture at Workington tonight. The Stars complete their mini northern tour at Glasgow tomorrow.
Scorers:
Ashley Jones: a Star in our hearts... forever!
M
MWEB MEDIA
copyright 2008 KING'S LYNN STARS / MWEB MEDIA / STEVE HONE PHOTOGRAPHY
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