Saturday, May 17, 2008
Skip Navigation LinksHome / Sport / Speedway

ISLANDERS OPEN WITH NARROW HOME VICTORY

By Bryn Williams - Friday, April 4, 2008
Sport/Speedway
WIGHTLINK Islanders edged to victory in their opening Premier Trophy meeting on Tuesday but were given something of a fright, thanks to a combination of engine problems and a very impressive performance from for ex-Island rider, Nick Simmons.
Prior to the match most experts had predicted something of a romp for Jason Bunyan and his men over the Welsh side.
But with him suffering a fall and an engine failure, Krzysztof Stojanowski failing to finish his third and fourth rides after a win and a second place in his first two, and both Glen Phillips and James Holder suffering problems as well, the margin of victory was not as comfortable as might have been expected.
Nevertheless, victory it was for the home side and two points safely tucked away from the match, despite the problems they encountered.
From the outset, the Islanders knew they’d have to work hard as the visitors provided the first three race winners before Phillips broke the sequence in the next by taking the chequered flag
With the scores level at 12-12, the Islanders finally broke the deadlock in the next race when Stojanowski led Newport skipper Craig Watson at the chequered flag for the race victory and Paul Fry claimed the odd point for finishing third.
And with Bunyan and partner Cory Gathercole scorching to a maximum 5-1 advantage in heat six, followed by a 4-2 in the next from Phillips and Holder, it seemed possible the Islanders were on their way to a comfortable victory as they led 25-17 after seven completed races.
But Newport, to their credit, battled hard with Simmons in breathtaking form on his return to his former home track and providing the necessary inspiration to his present club as the next four races were shared to leave eight points between the sides.
With three heats remaining, the Islanders led 39-33 and the match result in the balance. Drama followed in heat 13 as skipper Bunyan clashed with Watson, exiting the second bend and the Islander took a fall.
The race was immediately stopped and referee Robinson decided Watson was to blame for Bunyan coming to grief and excluding the Welsh side’s rider from the re-run in which there was more drama as Bunyan’s bike gave up the ghost yards from the start, leaving Phillips to head home Truminski for a home 3-2 advantage.
Seven points now separated the sides and just two races remained but the home victory was assured as Fry and Holder took second and third places behind race winner Simmons for a share of the points.
Just as well, as Watson and Simmons romped to a Newport 5-1 over a battered and bruised Bunyan as Phillips suffered an engine failure to cut the Islanders winning margin to a mere three points.
So a Wightlink Islanders win and they’ll be hoping to avoid problems when they travel to Somerset tonight (Friday) and to Newport for the return encounter on Sunday.