Teenager Jamie West-acott will never forget captaining the first Welsh speedway team to take to the track. It was a costly exercise and a last-heat shared points denied the home nation a victory.

Wales went into the meeting without the vastly experienced Tony Atkin who withdrew because of mechanical difficulties and rode under the banner of Young Wales.

The 16-year-old Westacott started off perfectly with a win over top-scoring American Chris Kerr who, on the form he displayed at the Hayley Stadium yesterday, could well figure in British speedway at some point.

Wales' most consistent rider was Cwmbran's Tom Brown who scored a paid 19 from six rides - including a double points tactical ride and only once finished outside of the top two. Immediately after the international he darted off to Weymouth for a round of the British Under-21 championship.

And when Westacott, in a tactical double points rider, came from the back into second place, the alert Brown allowed him through to first place with the finishing line in sight to give Wales a maximum 8-1 finish and set up a grandstand finale. At the end of heat 12 only a point separated the two teams.

In six rides Kerr was never out of the top two and won the last heat from Westacott and Brown in the second fastest time, 63.67, Westacott clocking the best in the first heat, 63.37.

After his flying start Westacott fell when leading heat four by the proverbial mile allowing Kerr to register his first of four wins. But there was even worse for Westacott just around the corner.

In heat seven he tangled with TJ Fowler coming out of the third bend of the first lap and although the American limped back to the pits, he took no further part in the meeting. Westacott was excluded from the rerun, many believing it was the wrong decision.

Wales suffered a maximum defeat in the rerun and in the following heat at which point they trailed 29-18

It was also very expensive meeting for Westacott who wrote off his bike in the first fall. He said: "I was looking back over my shoulder to see where other riders were and before I knew it I smacked into the safety fence and I wrote off the bike. But the second fall wasn't my fault. I had passed the guy and was clear when he clipped my back wheel But that's racing and I have to live with those decisions.

"However, I really enjoyed the meeting and it was an honour to captain and represent my country."

Phil Morris, the Wales team manager from Cwmfelinfach, said: "It was just unfortunate that it didn't go our way, but credit to every rider who took part. Tom (Brown) did fantastically well for us and I think the referee was wrong to exclude Jamie who also had an unfortunate fall. I am a little peeved that we lost."

Young Wales: Tony Atkin (rider replacement), David Tutton 0 (3), Tom Brown 17+2 (6), Darren Hatton 7 (5), Jamie Westacott 15 (7), Russell Barnett 4 (5), Matthew Tutton 4+1 (4).

US Dream Team: Shaun Harmiatuk (rider replacement), Tim Gomez 7+1 (5), TJ Fowler 5 (2), Dario Galvin 8 (6), Chris Kerr 16 (6), Brian Starr 4+1 (5), Neil Facchini 6+2 (4), Dale Facchini 2 (2).

Newport are once again Wales' only speedway team following the late collapse of negotiations to keep Carmarthen alive in the Conference League.