UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL

TEAM GB 49 AUSTRALASIA 40

POOLE-born Kyle Newman once again demonstrated he has the raw talent and determination to go far in speedway if his thrilling never-say-die spirit gets its full reward.

The tearaway Buccaneers teenager, not 18 until December 14, marked his international debut with a characteristic fabulous ride to stamp his mark on this absorbing clash at Wimborne Road tonight.

Newman, who banged in five paid eight for GB as they won by nine to edge a 3-2 victory in the five-match series, is renowned for giving his all in every race, certainly on his hometown track.

Well, he showcased his skills and ability in abundance against Australasia, with his heat four-effort the highlight of a cracking night’s action from some of the sport’s fledgling stars of the future.

The Bournemouth Castle Cover rider got out in front alongside GB team-mate Simon Lambert with southern hempishere boys Arlo Bugeja and Taylor Poole trailing behind.

Lambert, it seemed, wasn’t riding fast enough for Newman though, and the Buccaneer found himself trapped behind his own man on the inside as Bugeja blitzed past him on the outside on lap two.

Newman doesn’t accept defeat easily. And he dug deep to avoid it again.

His never-say-die attitude, witnessed many times by appreciative Buccaneers fans already this season, shone through once more as he set about chasing down Bugeja.

Newman, who could be set to entertain Buccaneers and Pirates supporters for many summers to come, bravely rode shoulder-to-shoulder on the inside of his opponent until the last corner.

Then, just when it looked as though Newman would have to settle for third, he skilfully forced Bugeja wide to charge up the inside and snatch second behind Lambert, who’d already taken the chequered flag.

Newman received a standing ovation for his spectacular effort from a crowd of about 1,000 as the 5-1 propelled GB 15-9 ahead.

The teenager, who’d also won a fierce three-lap battle for second behind team-mate Tim Webster in race two before the enigmatic Taylor Poole fell on the third bend, went down in his third race.

But his contribution played a major part in GB’s triumph as their greater strength in depth clinched success.

It was tough on Grant Tregoning (14) and Justin Sedgmen (13+1), who did their best to drag six-man Australasia past the winning post in the fifth and deciding contest of the series.

But only Poole (seven) also really tested GB as their captain and Buccaneer Jerran Hart serenely stormed to 14, losing out on a full maximum when Sedgmen slipped past him on the last lap in race five.

This clash was a great advert National League speedway, and the big turnout for a third-tier international proves Dorset fans like to watch the sport at this level.

Buccaneers rider Andrew Aldridge disappointed by failing to score, but Terry Day, an Englishman, grabbed two for Australasia after being bizarrely called up late to represent the side from Down Under.

Jay Herne, Buccaneers' captain, was fourth in the Joe Thurley Memorial Trophy at Birmingham tonight behind winner Mark Lemon, runner-up Jason Lyons and Paul Clews.

Team Great Britain 49: 1 Craig Cook (0-3-2-2) 7, 2 Kyle Haworth (1-0-2-1*) 4+1, 3 Kyle Hughes (1-ret-2*-2) 5+1, 4 Jerran Hart (3-2-3-3-3) 14, 5 Simon Lambert (3-1*-2-1*-1) 8+2, 6 Tim Webster (3-2-0-1) 6, 7 Kyle Newman (2*-2*-fell-1*) 5+3. Team manager: Garry May.

Australasia 40: 1 Justin Sedgmen (2*-3-exc unfair riding-3-3-2) 13+1, 2 Rider replacement for Jay Herne, 3 Grant Tregoning (3-2-3-3-3-0) 14, 4 Andrew Aldridge (0-0-0) 0, 5 Arlo Bugeja (1-1*-1-1-0) 4+1, 6 Terry Day (1-1-0) 2, 7 Taylor Poole (0-0-2-3-fell-fell exc-2) 7. Team manager: Neil Vatcher.

Referee: Dave Robinson.

Ht 1: Tregoning, Sedgmen, Haworth, Cook, 62.39 (1-5).

Ht 2: Webster, Newman, Day, Poole (fell, remounted), 62.95 (6-6).

Ht 3: Hart, Tregoning, Hughes, Aldridge, 61.08 (10-8).

Ht 4: Lambert, Newman, Bugeja, Poole, 62.03 (15-9).

Ht 5: Sedgmen, Hart, Day, Hughes (retired), 61.11 (17-13).

Ht 6: Cook, Poole, Bugeja, Haworth, 61.46 (20-16).

Ht 7: (re-run) Tregoning, Webster, Lambert, Aldridge, 62.62 (23-19).

Ht 8: (2nd re-run) Poole, Haworth, Newman (fell), Sedgmen (excluded unfair riding), 61.98 (25-22).

Ht 9: Hart, Hughes, Bugeja, Day, 61.06 (30-23).

Ht 10: Tregoning, Cook, Haworth, Poole (fell), 62.24 (33-26).

Ht 11: Sedgmen, Lambert, Bugeja, Webster, 61.96 (35-30).

Ht 12: (re-run) Tregoning, Hughes, Newman, Poole (fell excluded), 62.30 (38-33).

Ht 13: Sedgmen, Cook, Lambert, Bugeja, 60.92 (41-36).

Ht 14: Hart, Poole, Webster, Aldridge, 61.19 (45-38).

Ht 15: Hart, Sedgmen, Lambert, Tregoning, 61.54 (49-40).