English seeks a reaction to Redcar defeat
NEWCASTLE Diamonds’ team manager George English is looking for bouncebackability from Ludvig Lindgren and his men tomorrow night as they take on mighty Glasgow Tigers in a SGB Championship match at Byker (6.30).
He said: “It is a fairly new word in the dictionary but it is what we need by the bucketload after a shocking night at Redcar on Thursday.
“We want a positive reaction after that display to appease our fans, especially those who travelled down to witness it.”
It is for sure the Diamonds would have preferred an easier-looking match than a visit from Cup-holders Glasgow, whose last appearance at Byker was in October.
That thrilling encounter ended in a 45-45 draw before the Tigers clinched the silverware on the following evening on their own track.
The Tigers, like the Diamonds, kept the bulk of last season’s team for this year’s campaign, Richard Lawson, Aaron Summers and Richie Worrall filling heat-leader roles, while young Finn Nike Lunna is back again and rising star Dan Bewley was tempted away from Edinburgh.
Glasgow Tigers have the best away record in the league this year, too. In six matches raced on other tracks, big and small, the Tigers have always taken at least a point home with them and are the only team to boast such a record.
The Diamonds will be relying on British under-21 champion Robert Lambert to come up with another big score, while the clashes between Steve Worrall and twin brother Richie could be worth the admission fee alone.
Steve Worrall suffered a wrist injury after a rare fall at Redcar, but he is expected to be in tomorrow’s line-up.
English added: “It is a very tough match but we would love to be the first team in the league to send Glasgow back home empty-handed and, with our fans fully behind us, we can do it.”