What a difference a 40-minute break can make! Buxton were well in command of this meeting, and Newport had already used Chris Neath and Andrew Appleton as tactical substitutes, in a rather weaker, changed side - while Buxton had held a team talk and dug deep.
The match looked lost for the Mavericks when a horrific crash caused the meeting to be abandoned after the first turn of Heat 11. Jamie Young, off the inside gate, seemed to straighten and go wide, sending Nick Simmons through the safety fence and taking five of the wooden panels out of commission. Simmons and his machine also collected Neil Painter and Danny Slater as all four came to grief.
The two Buxton riders were able to walk away, but two extra ambulances swiftly arrived. With the safety fence shattered, there was no real chance that the meeting could continue - it would have taken several hours to make good the damage.
Newport offered to concede the match in view of the circumstances but whether they will be allowed to do so, or whether the authorities will order a restaging, remains to be seen.
On the day, the Hitmen looked certain winners, with the Mavericks relying on only two riders. Simmons had lost his touch and Graig Gough had fallen in all three races, his promoter Tim Stone blaming his tendency to look back on each occasion.
Buxton had come out a different team, perhaps the Mavericks relaxed - but the main concern was for the two injured riders.