Diamonds will have their Work cut out
IT looks like ‘Mission Impossible’ for Newcastle BTS Diamonds as they get together for the first time in three weeks at Workington tonight hoping to overturn a 10-point deficit and progress to the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup.
Stuart Robson and his men have not raced as a team since July 8 when they suffered their first home defeat of the season, going down 50-40 to the dazzling Comets in the first leg.
Diamonds’ team manager George English is, however, still optimistic his racers can provide a major shock and get through on aggregate and meet Edinburgh in the semi-finals.
He said: “If we can get away from the starting gate at least on level terms with the Comets, we’ve got a chance.
“At our place, in race after race, the Workington riders made the gate leaving our lads to chase forlornly at times and we paid the penalty with a home defeat.
“Unfortunately, there could be a bit of rustiness about tonight due to a lack of racing in recent weeks, though Robbo has had two matches this week for his new SGB Premiership team Leicester, while Ashley Morris has done the same with Wolverhampton.
“It is a bit like starting the season all over again as some of the lads have not had many laps of competitive racing under their belts.
“However, we will give it our best shot and see what happens.”
The Diamonds’ stop-start campaign has suffered another disruption with the news next Friday’s league match at Glasgow has been shelved for the time being as the Ashfield Stadium has been chosen to host an England vs Australia international on Saturday, August 4t
The next home action at Byker is on Sunday, August 5 (6.30) when the Diamonds face Glasgow Tigers, currently in third spot in the table, in a SGB Championship League match.