Diamonds make changes ahead of rivals’ clash

MATTHEW Wethers drops down to a reserve berth as Newcastle Diamonds tackle local rivals Redcar Bears in a SGB Championship clash at Byker tomorrow (6.30).

His main roster spot is taken by Ashley Morris, who has had a terrific run in the reserve slot that Wethers will now occupy.

The 24-year-old is well out in front as Newcastle’s leading pointscorer this season.

After a year out of the sport, Australian Wethers has shown signs of rust and his average has fallen below that of Morris.

Team manager George English says the change should make little difference to the Diamonds as they defend an unbeaten home record against their arch-rivals.

He said: “The positional swap has looked on the cards for weeks as Ashley has been on fire while Matty has gradually eased himself back in after a long lay-off.

“The change comes about because Matty has now completed the minimum four home and four away fixtures that give him a new average.

“However, he was back to something like his very best last Sunday when scoring 10 (paid 11) against Berwick, so I think he will form just as powerful a reserve pairing with Wilko (Carl Wilkinson) as we had when Ash was in that spot.”

This will be Redcar’s second visit to Byker, having lost 51-39, in a Championship Shield match last month when Ben Barker (13, paid 14) and Newcastle asset Matej Kus (11) led the Bears’ scorechart.

The Bears have also been forced into positional changes because of new averages, with Jordan Stewart and Mikkel B. Andersen dropping into reserve roles.

With the search to replace Lewis Rose still ongoing, the Diamonds have called up Berwick star David Howe as a guest tomorrow.

Howe notched 9 (paid 10) for the Bandits at Byker a week ago and will fill the No.2 position against Redcar.