Speedway: Ward proves his worth on world stage (From Bournemouth Echo)

Speedway: Ward proves his worth on world stage

7:00am Tuesday 27th July 2010 in

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DARCY Ward passed his World Team Cup baptism of fire with flying colours.

But it was not enough to help new look Australia progress directly into the final in event two at King’s Lynn last night.

Pirates’ star had been called up to make his Australia senior debut in the white hot cauldron of the Norfolk Arena against Great Britain, Sweden and Finland.

Ward was drafted in because experienced duo Jason Crump and Leigh Adams elected to sit out this year’s competition.

It meant Aussie boss Craig Boyce was forced to blood Ward on his former Premier League track.

The reigning world under-21 individual champion responded brilliantly, shrugging off his nerves as he rose to the occasion for the Kangaroos on a night of high drama.

Ward rode well to grab eight points and was involved in several of the big moments.

In the end, he and Pirates team-mates Chris Holder (12) and Davey Watt (11) had to play second fiddle to fired up Britain, who won a last-heat decider through Scott Nicholls over Troy Batchelor to storm directly into Saturday’s final at Vojens in Denmark.

The Aussies, who now meet Denmark, Russia and Sweden in the race-off at Vojens on Thursday, led early on but were forced to draw level with Britain when Holder finished second behind Jonas Davidsson in race 23. Watt trailed home in third behind winner Chris Harris and Antonio Lindback in heat 24 as Britain forged two ahead going into the last race.

Then, to the delight of a bumper partisan home crowd, Nicholls got the better of Batchelor to complete the job as Britain joined Poland in the final.

Ward had a particularly eventful night, almost falling off on the last bend in his second ride while leading and throwing away a vital victory.

After bouncing off the safety fence to beat Simon Stead and Lindback, Ward told Sky Sports: “That was awesome. I don’t know what everyone was worried about.

“I was just thinking ‘wow, I’m going to win a race in the World Cup’. I just lost concentration, hit a bit of grip and rode the fence.

“It’s not my favourite track. Last year, I was struggling here. But in that race, I made a blinder out of the gate, and that victory was sweet.”

Ward also pipped Tai Woffinden for third on the line in heat 22 to ensure a nail-biting finish.

Finland 14: 1 Timo Lahti (fell exc-0-0-0) 0, 2 Joonas Kylmakorpi (0-1-2-0-4^-2) 9, 3 Juha Hautamaki (0-1-0-0-1) 2, 4 Kauko Nieminen (1-0-0-0-0) 1, 5 Tero Aarnio (0-2-0-0-0) 2. Team manager: Jyri Palomaki.

Australia 48: 1 Chris Holder (3-2-3-2-2) 12, 2 Davey Watt (3-2-3-2-1) 11, 3 Troy Batchelor (3-1-3-2-2) 11, 4 Rory Schlein (2-fell exc-1-2-1) 6, 5 Darcy Ward (2-3-1-1-1) 8. Team manager: Craig Boyce.

Great Britain 51: 1 Scott Nicholls (2-3-3-3-3) 14, 2 Lee Richardson (1-2-2-2-3) 10, 3 Tai Woffinden (2-fell exc-2-3-0) 7, 4 Simon Stead (3-2-1-1-fell exc) 7, 5 Chris Harris (3-3-3-1-3) 13. Team manager: Rob Lyon.

Sweden 40: 1 Fredrik Lindgren (fell exc-6^-2-3-3) 14, 2 Jonas Davidsson (2-3-2-3-1-3) 14, 3 Antonio Lindback (1-1-1-1-2) 6, 4 Magnus Zet-terstrom (0-0-1-3-0-1) 5, 5 Daniel Nermark (1-0-fell exc) 1. Team manager: Peter Jansson.