NEWS ARCHIVE

King's Lynn 45, Edinburgh 45 writes the Eastern Daily Press' Paddy Davitt

  King's Lynn's 'A-team' of Tomas Topinka and Kevin Doolan rescued a Premier

  League draw last night at the Norfolk Arena. The Stars were staring down the

  barrel of a second Saddlebow defeat on the trot after Birmingham ended Lynn's

  98-run competitive home winning streak.

  Topinka and Doolan approached the tapes for the finale four points adrift after the

  Scottish raiders launched a second half comeback. Maximum man Topinka flew

  from the gate but Doolan needed all his Norfolk Arena trackcraft to repel William

  Lawson and maintain Lynn's unbeaten league start.

Swedish teenager Thomas Jonasson caught the eye for the visitors on his Saddlebow debut - notably eclipsing Doolan to drag Edinburgh level in heat 13. Topinka trapped from gate three to dictate the opener. Monarchs' number one Ryan Fisher drew warm applause from the home fans when he hauled his machine off the track after picking up grip exiting turn three.Aaron Summers' electrical failure gifted Lynn a maximum in the reserves. Doolan drove up the inside of Jonasson to claim the next - Kozza Smith careering out after nearly colliding with his compatriot in the opening skirmishes.

Rusty Harrison split the Monarchs' duo but Andrew Tully was well clear on his Norfolk Arena return after featuring in the recent British U21 qualifier. Doolan's heat five tour only told half a story as Smith hit the shale for the second time. Shaun Tacey's rearguard action fended off Summers to anchor a home maximum that moved Lynn a commanding eight clear on the scoresheets after six heats.

Jonasson replied in kind to haul Edinburgh back into the contest but the impressive Tacey cruised to a heat eight flag. The Doolan and Smith show continued ahead of the interval - Doolan marching to a third heat win while Smith cut a lonely figure perched on his machine after another spill. Tacey dived into Topinka's slipstream on the restart but paid a heavy price for his wide line as Edinburgh pounced for the minor placings.

American Fisher launched the visiting onslaught with a heat 11 max - Sneddon nullifying Harrison's surge. Stylish Swede Jonasson stunned the home crowd when he halted Doolan's maximum charge in the next. Fisher edged Harrison in an epic duel behind Topinka before ex-Lynn racer Matthew Wethers blasted out of the final turn to mug Harrison on the line.

Tully held the marauding John Oliver at bay in a pivotal penultimate contest as Lawson anchored a visiting max to put Edinburgh in an unbeatable position. Stars' team boss Rob Lyon cashed in his insurance policy - Topinka and Doolan obliging with a textbook tandem success.

Stars: Topinka 15, Tacey 6+1, Doolan 13+1, Smith 0, Harrison 3, Oliver 5, Lambert 3+1.

Monarchs: Fisher 6+1, Sneddon 6+1, Jonasson 9+1, Lawson 9+2, Wethers 4+1, Tully 2+1, Summers 9+1.

Ashley Jones: a Star in our hearts... forever!

copyright 2008 KING'S LYNN STARS / MWEB MEDIA / STEVE HONE PHOTOGRAPHY