WASPS 44 DIAMONDS 46

THE ‘can do better’ sign remains hanging over Darlows Wasps, who slipped to a second successive home British Premier League defeat at Queensway Meadows Stadium yesterday.

Admittedly this performance was up on last Sunday, when an ordinary Redcar Bears outfit went home 48-42 winners.

However, there remain concerns that unless their team starts winning soon, Wasps followers’ hopes of their heroes reaching the end-of-season play-offs could soon be over.

The teams meets tonight in Newcastle for a quick-fire return, with the Wasps needing to show much more determination if they are to return as victors.

Not that any one rider is trying, because they all are. However, stand-in skipper Craig Watson has enjoyed better days at the venue, while Swede Anders Mellgren was off the pace in three of his four races.

The Wasps have put in a couple of fine home displays – against both King’s Lynn Stars and Somerset Rebels, and need to return to that sort of form quickly if they are to make an impact.

In this meeting, 5-1 maximums were produced first by hard-working Aussie duo Alex Davies and Todd Kurtz, and then Swede Kim Nilsson Kurtz again to put the home side 14-10 up after four heats.

But the visitors gradually chipped away at the lead, and four wins and three draws for the Diamonds from the next nine races saw them surge to 45-39 after 14.

It meant even a 5-0 last-heat success wasn’t enough to engineer a home victory – although Nilsson and guest Chris Neath did manage a 5-1 over Danish pair Kenni Larsen and Rene Bach’s advantage.

Nilsson was magnificent in winning four of his five outings. But in the one he failed to win, race 13, he actually came last in as team-mate Neath took the chequered flag.

Neath was appearing in place of injured Wasps skipper Leigh Lanham, and the former Newport star proved an able deputy in posting a paid 10 total from five rides.

However, the Wasps missed Lanham’s inspirational qualities, and the sooner he recovers from a wrist strain, the better.

Newport Darlows Wasps 44: 1– Chris Neath (guest for Leigh Lanham) 10+2(5); 2 – Craig Watson 3+1(4); 3 – Anders Mellgren 2(4); 4 – Kyle Legault 7(4); 5 – Kim Nilsson 12(5); 6 – Alex Davies 5+1(5) 7 – Todd Kurtz 5+2(4).

Newcastle Diamonds 46: 1 – Kenni Larsen 9(5); 2 – Derek Sneddon 5+1(4); 3 – Jason King (captain) 7+2(4); 4 Rene Bach 8(5); 5 – Mark Lemon 7+4(); 6 – Paul Starke 6(5); 7 – Adam McKinna 4(3).