Go ride/Clubmark Cycle Speedway Club East Newport, competed in this years South West Rose Bowl, which is open to all South West Club's not competing in the premier league.
 
The top 4 teams from the Rose Bowl would join seeded club's Poole [&] Horspath in the prestigious Gold Cup in July. With Filton withdrawing from the meeting due to a shortage of riders (which is a bit of a mystery considering they have the use of all Newport CSC riders to ride for them in South West Team events), the remaining five club's; Exeter (last years winners), hosts Hellingly, Swindon, Southampton and East Newport proceeded on a well prepared circuit to try and win the 2009 Rose Bowl.
 
In all fairness the winners were always going to be out of Swindon, Hellingly and Southampton with Exeter and East Newport trying to take points off the top three and finish in the all important Gold Cup spot of 4th place.
 
Swindon finished the meeting in 3rd place on 41 points, Hellingly 2nd on 46 and Southampton deserved winners on 48.
 
All of the Exeter riders gave 100% and in Craig Nethercott who scored 12 points, it is only a matter of time before a premier league side snaps him up.
 
As for the East Enders it was all about qualifying for the Gold Cup and this they did by pipping Exeter by just 2 points. Aaron Hughes topped scored with 12 points and was backed up very well by Man Of The Match Rob Absalom, the other three East End riders Neil Power, Ryan Lewis and Nigel Clark were always in the thick of the action.
 
The match was well marshalled by top referee Mike Legg, and to see the current British Champion on show when surely his services would have been much more appreciated in a premier league clash just goes to show that regional events like these are just as important.
 
East Newport 32

• Aaron Hughes 12
• Rob Absalom 7+2
• Neil Power 8
• Ryan Lewis 3
• Nigel Clark 2