The Talon Stars had hoped to track Jay Herne, their young Australian prospect, but he could not take his place due to a technicality, so they ran another young Aussie, Mark Jones, in his place. It proved to be the tightest result so far, with the Giants just holding out for the win, but they didn't have it all their own way. For the Stars, Jones was the star of the show with a 12-point maximum from four rides and the fastest time of the night - 61.49 in heat six. Robert Charles took a second spot and a third in his return. Paul Stark had a quiet night with just one third place to his credit. Marc Andrews had a night he would want to forget, taking a heavy fall in his first race, and was then not able to take his remaining rides. Top scorer for the Giants was Nicky Mallett with seven points, including a heat win. James Williams had a good night and appears to be getting better with each meeting, returning 6+1, including a win, for his three rides. Oliver Gay had two thirds and a fall in his three rides, and will be hoping to soon get back to the form he was showing a couple of weeks ago. Another in the wars here was Matt Bates. Normally reliable at this level, he looked a bit below par and admitted after the meeting that he wasn't feeling too well before his first ride, which ended with a fall in the re-run. He did record two second places, the first of these from the back, when he chased home the useful Mark Jones. Bates seems to have found a quick way round the inside line of the Oak Tree circuit, and put it to good use here. Mark Jones gave the Giants a tough task. With a bit more support the Talon Stars may have taken this match, but as it was the Giants who kept their home record intact. | 
