Buccaneers: Mills to the rescue

Castle Cover Buccaneers have beaten all-comers at Wimborne Road since the team was formed at the beginning of last season – winning all 19 previous home matches.

But Hornets took them to a nail-biting last-heat decider before they became the first visiting team to prise an away National League point from the Dorset outfit.

With Mark Jones (13), Tony Atkin (11+1) and Todd Kurtz (8+1) on the pace throughout, and Bournemouth reject Kyle Newman pulling off a stunning heat 12 victory over Karl Mason, Newport only trailed 41-40 with two races to go.

That was after referee Dale Entwistle harshly excluded Mark Baseby, who he felt nudged Jones off on the fourth bend in race 11 when Buccs skipper was trying to dive under the Hornet into second.

It left John Resch to battle against Atkin and tactical man Jones in the re-run.

It was no-contest as Hornets’ pair outgated Resch and grabbed an 8-1 that slashed their deficit from 35-25 to 36-33.

With two races to go, Newport looked as though they might pull off a major shock and become the first away team to beat Buccaneers.

But 16-year-old Howarth rode a mature race way beyond his years to outgate in-form Kurtz.

Kurtz was only ever half-a-bike’s length behind the Buccaneer throughout the whole race.

Howarth, however, knowing he would be passed if he made any mistakes, never put a wheel wrong as he scorched on to take the chequered flag under relentless pressure from Kurtz.

With Daniel Halsey grabbing third, Bournemouth moved 45-42 ahead. But going into the last race, all possible outcomes were still possible – a home win, away triumph, a draw, a Buccaneers victory by more than six, and a Newport defeat by less than six.

The Dorset side won the toss for gates and, surprisingly, elected two and four, which immediately sent Bournemouth’s fans into a panic, thinking it was the wrong choice.

When Atkin and Jones jumped out in front, their fears looked as though they would be realised as Hornets were on the 5-1 that would clinch them a stunning victory.

But the experienced Mills, a class act at third-tier level, didn’t panic. He simply powered under Jones on the pits bend into second, and stuck his front wheel like glue behind leader Atkin’s bike despite being put under constant pressure by a never-say-die Jones behind him as he got two points that sealed Buccaneers’ triumph.

Buccaneers 47: 1 Chris Mills (3-3-2-2-2) 12, 2 Aaron Baseby (1-1-1*-1*) 4+2, 3 Karl Mason (3-2-2*-2) 9+1, 4 Daniel Halsey (0-fell-3-1) 4, 5 Mark Baseby (3-3-exc unfair riding-1*-0) 7+1, 6 Kyle Howarth (3-0-2-0-3) 8, 7 John Resch (2*-0-1) 3+1.

Team managers: Garry May and Neil Vatcher.

Newport 46: 1 Tony Atkin (2-1-2*-3-3) 11+1, 2 Mark Jones (0-3-3-6^-1) 13, 3 Kyle Newman (1*-2-fell exc-3) 6+1, 4 Todd Kurtz (2-1*-3-2) 8+1, 5 Tim Webster (2-0-1-0) 3, 6 Tom Young (1-2-0-1-0) 4, 7 James White Williams (0-1*-0) 1+1.

Team manager: Kevin Brown.

Referee: Dale Entwistle.

League points: Bournemouth 2 Newport 1.

Ht 1: Mills, Atkin, A Baseby, Jones, 61.90 (4-2).

Ht 2: Howarth, Resch, Young, White-Williams, 64.18 (9-3).

Ht 3: Mason, Kurtz, Newman, Halsey, 62.58 (12-6).

Ht 4: M Baseby, Webster, White-Williams, Howarth, 62.31 (15-9).

Ht 5: Jones, Mason, Atkin, Halsey (fell), 62.51 (17-13).

Ht 6: (re-run) Mills, Young, A Baseby, Webster, 62.79 (21-15).

Ht 7: M Baseby, Newman, Kurtz, Resch, 62.60 (24-18).

Ht 8: Jones, Howarth, A Baseby, White-Williams, 63.43 (27-21).

Ht 9: Halsey, Mason, Webster, Young, 63.81 (32-22).

Ht 10: (re-run) Kurtz, Mills, A Baseby (fell, remounted), Newman (fell excluded), 63.10 (35-25).

Ht 11: (re-run) Jones^ (tactical rider, double points), Atkin, Resch, M Baseby (excluded, unfair riding), 63.86 (36-33).

Ht 12: Newman, Mason, Young, Howarth, 63.37 (38-37).

Ht 13: Atkin, Mills, M Baseby, Webster, 62.84 (41-40).

Ht 14: Howarth, Kurtz, Halsey, Young, 63.54 (45-42).

Ht 15: Atkin, Mills, Jones, M Baseby, 63.27 (47-46).

Last night’s other results – Premier League KO Cup: Birmingham 63 Sheffield 25, King’s Lynn 57 Glasgow 33.