Cup clashes could be a Little close

A WEEKEND which will decide who reaches the 2022 National Development League Knockout Cup final may not be decided until the last of the 30 scheduled heats.

That’s the view of Grant Henderson Tankers Berwick Bullets’ coach Kevin Little as his side takes on Leicester Cubs - the division’s current top two sides going head to head.

The two legs at Shielfield tonight (7.00) and in the East Midlands tomorrow (4.00) will decide who faces Mildenhall Fen Tigers.

Leicester are the cup holders, having beaten Belle Vue 88-74 the last time the competition was held in 2019. When the sides met in the league last month it was the Bullets who came out as 48-41 victors, skipper Kyle Bickley dropping just one point in a solid Berwick performance.

Little, who was in the last Berwick side to win a Knockout Cup competition – the 1995 British Conference version – said: “Last year the sides drew 45-45at Leicester with five riders on each team who will be in action again this weekend.

“I’m expecting it to be a tight tie and I wouldn’t be surprised if it went right down to the closing races on Sunday before it was decided.

“Every point, whether a heat win or a third place, could be vital.”

Since they met in the league last month the Bullets have beaten Mildenhall at Shielfield and suffered only their second defeat of the season at Belle Vue last Friday.

In contrast the Cubs beat injury-hit Plymouth 57-32 at home and then produced a stunning 50-39 win at Mildenhall last Sunday, 15-year-old Max Perry returning to the side after being sidelined by a broken collarbone when the teams had previously met.