JAY Herne admitted he was already licking his lips at the prospect of captaining Buccaneers against National League champions Weymouth in a mouth-watering cup quarter-final.

The Australian bagged eight paid nine in Bournemouth Castle Cover’s 55-38 home victory over Newport last night.

That second leg score in their first round tussle sealed the Dorset club a 114-69 aggregate triumph and fixed up a two-legged last-eight tie against the Wildcats on dates to be decided.

Then Herne, who saw team-mates Mark Baseby (14) and Kyle Newman (10+1) top score for his side, said: “It was a really good win for us, although we had a bigger score away in the first leg (when Buccaneers won 59-31).

“We had a bit of bad luck with the weather and the track wasn’t easy to ride, but we won easily and that’s the main thing.

“It should be great now we’re against Weymouth and I hope we can beat them as well.

“With the rain, it didn’t make for great racing “ I don’t know what the crowd thought about that, but we were just pleased to get the meeting on and get the win.”

Herne added: “I think the boys will be really, really looking forward to racing Weymouth in the next round.

“I rode for Wildcats last year and so did Luke Priest and Kyle Newman, so we should be able to take a bit of our track expertise down there with us.

“We know the set-ups, I guested for them last week which was good and I think we are looking quite strong at the moment.

“Weymouth won their first two matches but they were beaten at the Isle of Wight, where we won.

“That shows we, maybe, are a bit stronger than they are away from home, although I’m not sure.

“It will be two very good meetings, which will be tougher than tonight’s and our meeting at Newport on Sunday.”

With Bournemouth also due to host Wildcats on May 28, and visit Weymouth on June 19, in National League action, it means the sides look set to clash four times in derbies inside a short spell.

Excited by that juicy prospect, Herne said: “With regard to the fans, I think there will be a bit of strong rivalry between the two camps.

“Last year it was more Plymouth and Weymouth at this level, but now there is a new team closer to home, I think both sets of fans will make matches between Bournemouth and Weymouth a big deal.

“I think we’ll see supporters lighting up the fans’ forums on the internet.

“That’s fair enough as it is part and parcel of speedway these days, but I don’t think the riders will become too bothered by it as most of us know each other so well.”

Story so far, National League Knockout Cup, first round: Bournemouth 114 Newport 69, King’s Lynn 99 Mildenhall 83.

Revised second round draw: Buxton v Rye House, Plymouth v Isle of Wight, Bournemouth v Weymouth, King’s Lynn v Scunthorpe.