NEWCASTLE Diamonds took a narrow 46-44 victory over the Stoke ‘Harvey Tyres’ Potters in the inaugural Dave Tattum Memorial Cup on Sunday afternoon.

The Potters were 6-points down in the opening seven heats with a 4-2 from Max Clegg and James Wright and a 5-1 from Paul Starke and George Congreve after Ben Barker lost a chain on the third lap while challenging Starke for the lead with the Diamonds leading 24-18 at the midway point of the meeting.

James Sarjeant took the Potters first race win of the afternoon holding off Matthew Wethers for the victory.

A further couple of 4-2 heat advantages for the home side saw the Potters 10-points adrift after ten heats before Stoke gained their first heat advantage of the meeting as skipper Steve Worrall took victory from Starke with Connor Coles taking third after Sarjeant demolished the tapes and was disqualified. Stoke team manager Lloyd Tattum brought in Barker as a tactical substitute in heat twelve which saw him take victory with Ricky Wells third for a second successive Stoke 4-2 with Barker and Worrall then combining for a maximum 5-1 in heat thirteen to leave the Potters trailing 40-38 with two heats remaining.

Leon Flint took victory for the Potters in heat fourteen to leave the Potters still trailing by two points leaving the Potters needing requiring a 5-1 to take victory, but it was former Potter Max Clegg who gated and managed to hold off the Potters pairing of Barker and Worrall to take victory.

Stoke team boss Lloyd Tattum commented “We didn’t disgrace ourselves and put in a good performance. It was good to see so many Stoke supporters in the crowd cheering the team on and I feel that it has been an entertaining meeting for both sets of supporters although it’s disappointing to narrowly miss out on the win.

“I’d like to thank Rob Grant and the Newcastle promotion, both sets of riders for putting on a good display and for the Stoke riders for accepting the booking to ride for the club and to the supporters who made the trip up from the Potteries I know my Dad would have been proud, and hopefully we can run the meeting again next year."

NEWCASTLE 46: Max Clegg 12+1, Matthew Wethers 10, Paul Starke 9, James Wright 6, Lee Complin 4+1, George Congreve 3+2, Bradley Wilson-Dean 2+1.
STOKE SELECT 44: Ben Barker 13, Steve Worrall 10+3, Ricky Wells 7, James Sarjeant 5, Leon Flint 4+1, Joe Alcock 3, Connor Coles 2+1.