Lgons marks home debut with a max.

Newcastle "Tap and Spile (North Shields)" Diamonds put on a superb show to overcome the sturdy challenge of the 2003 Premier League Champions, the Edinburgh Monarchs in a thrilling Premier League match that saw home-debut-Diamond, Aussie Jason Lyons score a brilliant 5 ride maximum to lead them to victory.

Lyons 15 points out of 15 were not easy points by any means as he battled in two memorable conflicts for the lead, especially Heat 15 when he missed the gate, but weaved his way with breath-taking excellence through, round and under his opposition to lead by a mile off bend two, a feat almost a carbon copy of a move he made 2 heats earlier to bring Brough Park to it's feet with unbridled ecstasy!

The undeniable success of signing Lyons was mirrored by the keeping on of another Aussie, Scott Smith who, up to this meeting, had suffered a dreadful year. He was also involved in the thick of the action, namely in Heat 7 when he and Lyons teamed up for Diamonds Heat maximum 5-1 over former Newcastle skipper, Peter Carr, known for his unbeatable characteristics round Brough in the past. The 5-1 took Newcastle back into the lead 22-20.

Smith again brought the house down when he took a fine win in Heat 14 over Tactical Substitute rider, Australian Under-21 Champion, Rory Schlein for the Monarchs who was making serious challenges on Smith during the final lap.

His Heat 14 win effectively took the match beyond the Monarchs' reach as he claimed Newcastle's second victory of 2004, and it tasted like the sweetest vintage wine to the crowd on the terraces who were finally rewarded for their patience.

George English, Newcastle's team manager was naturally in jubilant spirits afterwards, celebrating in style.

He said "This was a fine victory for us, and I sincerely hope that this is now the point we have turned the corner and start to pile up the victories, at home at the very least.

"Lubos (Tomicek) showed more bite and determination to score well. Scott (Smith) rode his heart out and showed us exactly what we knew he was capable of, hence our loyalty to him, and new guy Jason (Lyons) was nothing short of spectacular with some of the most amazing passes I have ever seen at Brough in many a long year. His experience and enthusiam seems to have transformed our team.... Long may it continue!"

Afterwards in the Conference League the Newcastle Ultrafast Gems put up a decent battle with Edinburgh's youth squad, a visiting team expected to have won easily due to thies strong line-up.

Newcastle managed to hold a lead over them up to Heat 12 when a 2-4 to the Armadale Dale Devils put them in front 35-36 after which Blair Scott and former Newcastle Diamond Derek Sneddon, now raving again after a badly shattered leg, put paid to any Newcastle come back despite good performances from Jamie Robertson, Mike Pickering and Lee Dicken.