No favours for the Bears, say Diamonds
THERE should be thrills aplenty at Byker tomorrow evening (6.30) as Newcastle Diamonds and Redcar clash for the second time this month in a crucial SGB Championship match for the Bears.
The two sides dished up terrific entertainment two weeks ago in a contest where there were never more than four points between them - culminating in a last-race 5–1 by Steve Worrall and Ludvig Lindgren to win the match for the Diamonds 46–44.
Though the Diamonds’ play-off chances went out of the window weeks ago, the Teesside outfit is hoping for a minor miracle this weekend when they undertake their final three fixtures – all away from home – in as many days.
Starting at Glasgow tonight, the Bears visit Tyneside tomorrow and move on to Sheffield on Monday hoping to garner enough points to overhaul the Scottish Tigers for the final play-off spot.
However, Newcastle boss George English says he will not be doing Redcar any favours in their quest to finish in the top four in the table.
He said: “They beat us twice on Teesside earlier in the year and we have pulled one back with that sensational last race 5–1 by Steve and Ludvig a fortnight ago.
“So now we are looking at evening up the score.”
Newcastle will again be without No.1 Robert Lambert as he is racing for his Polish club Lublin in the second leg of the play-off final over there.
The Diamonds are only allowed to track a junior in Lambert’s place and, with many fixtures taking place tomorrow as clubs catch up on previously rained-off matches, English hinted local lad Josh Embleton - a regular score-chart topper for the Newcastle Gems in the Northern Junior League could get the nod.
He added: “Josh has had an outing for Stoke in the National League as well as in the British Championship semi-final on our track in April, so we know what he is capable of.”