Wethers back but on right side this time

AUSTRALIAN Matthew Wethers, who once scored an incredible 21-point maximum for Edinburgh Monarchs at Byker, is the latest signing for Newcastle Diamonds.

Adelaide-born Wethers is 32 and will add a wealth of experience to the Diamonds team, which is backed this year by Boiler Technical Services of Cramlington.

Diamonds promoters Martin Phillips and George English are putting the finishing touches to the 2018 line-up.

Phillips said: “Matthew, or Stormy as he is affectionately known, has been in our thoughts right from the outset of assembling the new team, and we are delighted to have him with us.

“He fits in perfectly with the other five riders we have and adds another dimension to the side in that he feels he has a point to prove to the rest of the clubs in the Championship after, most surprisingly, failing to land a team spot last year.”

Wethers first raced in this country in 2003 for Edinburgh and remained with the Monarchs for 10 seasons.

“It was during that spell he produced a career-best, never-to-be forgotten performance on Tyneside one September evening at Byker in 2008 when, almost single-handedly, he helped Edinburgh to the league title by winning all seven races to record a very rare instance of someone scoring a 21-point maximum.

The Australian’s haul helped Edinburgh win 49-40 on the night on their way to the title.

Wethers (pictured) later joined Berwick and spent three seasons as a Bandit, 2013, 2014 and 2016, switching to Workington in 2015.

The BTS Diamonds’ line-up still has one place to fill before the new season gets under way over the Easter weekend and to date the team is (with averages in brackets) Ludvig Lindgren (7.21), Stuart Robson (7.02), Matthew Wethers (5.65), Tero Aarnio (5.02), Carl Wilkinson (4.97), Ashley Morris (4.88).