NEWS ARCHIVE

Stars' Premier League tonic 14.04.08

Glasgow 46 King's Lynn 47

writes the Eastern Daily Press' Paddy Davitt

Lynn lifted the storm clouds with an unbeaten double header to kickstart their Premier League campaign.

Rob Lyon's men survived a late onslaught north of the border on Sunday to follow up their last heat 45-45 draw at Workington on Saturday night.

Lynn's successful road trip came after a shock 55-39 Premier Trophy Norfolk Arena defeat to Birmingham - ending a 98-run competitive winning streak on home shale. Kevin Doolan defied Lynn old boy Shane Parker to claim the spoils in a heart stopping finale on his return to Ashfield.

Lynn's Aussie ace signalled his intent alongside compatriot Kozza Smith with a swift heat three maximum - Doolan's 57.9 second scorch the fastest so far at Glasgow this season. The Stars' opening maximum cancelled out Lee Dicken's reserve flag after Shaun Tacey had claimed the opener. Tacey re-emerged to pinch heat five after Rusty Harrison had gated to a slick win, Robert Ksiezak taking a tumble.

Parker and Ross Brady looked set to repair the early damage until Brady slid off - Harrison and John Oliver accepting the gift to keep Lynn six clear on the scoresheets. The all-action Smith careered into the fence entering turn one but the ex-Queensland U21 champion re-appeared to pip Josh Grajczonek behind the imperious Doolan.

Tacey banished memories of his below par Brummies' outing with a third consecutive flag in the next - Oliver pocketing a point in a reserve switch after the luckless Brady trundled to a halt. Harrison foiled Parker's tactical raid off 15 metres in a re-run heat nine after Simon Lambert hit the deck. Parker spoiled Doolan's maximum surge before Tomas Topinka and Tacey looked to have sunk the Tigers with a heat 11 maximum. Doolan snuffed out Trent Leverington's final tactical play to keep Lynn nine clear but Parker and Gradjczonek anchored back-to-back maximums in a repeat of Birmingham's Saddlebow romp.

Doolan flirted with exclusion in the nominated decider after he looked to have jumped the tapes before cashing in with a gating masterclass on his old stomping ground.

Tigers: Parker 14+1, Brady 2, Leverington 11+1, Davey 0, Ksiezak 5+1, Grajczonek 4, Dicken 10+2.

Stars: Topinka 5, Tacey 11+1, Doolan 14, Smith 4+2, Harrison 7, Oliver 4+1, Lambert 2.