Newport Mavericks 52

St Austell BWOC Gulls 38

What a match we have in store for next Sunday's home leg of the knock out cup final. The Gulls have every chance of retaining the trophy they won last season after holding the League Champions, Newport, to 14 points.

Things started well and were 9-9 after three heats with Adrian Newman scorching to a win in his first race. Unfortunately, in his second race he somersaulted over the handle bars after brushing the safety fence and although he appeared for his next ride he was clearly not 100%.

On a heavy track favouring the home team The Gulls fought bravely to stop the Mavericks building an unsurmountable lead to take to The Motorparc. Prior to the meeting Team manager, Andy Annear, had hoped his team would restrict the points difference to 10 and he very nearly got his wish. In the final heat Seemond Stephens and Gary Lobb were on the way to a 501 when Lobb was unceremoniously dislodged in a tussle with Bobby Eldridge on the third lap. A maximum heat win turned into shared points and The Gulls have it all to do next Sunday.

Gulls scorers: Stephens 14 (6), Prynne 1 (3), Lobb 9 (6), Ford 2 (3), Barrett 5 (5), Phelps 4 (4), Newman 3 (3).

Conference League - Kings Lynn Braves 37 St Austell BWOC Gulls 53

With Wayne Barrett and Adrian Newman showing the way and skipper Seemond Stephens recording his usual solid performance, The Gulls regained some valuable confidence to finish their league programme on a winning note.

For the second running the track left a lot to be desired and after Heats One and Three were rerun, the meeting was temporarily stopped whilst the track reprepared. Ride replacement was being used for Gary Lobb who had not recovered from his spill at the end of Saturday's match and when Gary Phelps damaged his wrist after falling in his second ride, The Gulls were down to five riders.

At the end of Heat Seven the home held a two point lead but a 4-2 to The Gulls in Heat Eight brought the scores level at 21-21 and from there on The Gulls shared or took a points advantage in every heat.

Scorers: Stephens 13 (6), Prynne 4 + 1 (4), Ford 5 + 1 (5), Barrett 16 (6), Phelps 2 (1), Newman 13 + 2 (7).

Both Gary's Lobb and Phelps expect to recover in time for next Sunday's Knockout Cup Final second leg against Newport Mavericks at The Motoparc, starting at 2.30pm.