Speedway: Diamonds look to keep up good run

May 7 2008 The Journal

AFTER two encouraging performances against Glasgow last weekend, Newcastle Diamonds arrive at Perry Barr Stadium for a league clash with the Birmingham Brummies tonight (7.30pm).

Birmingham was the 2007 base for controversial Diamonds rider Ben Powell, and as cover for him they have enlisted the services of Redcar’s Daniel Giffard as a guest replacement.

The meeting will again see rider replacement used for the absent George Stancl. Birmingham have also had their share of troubles, with a nasty injury to Canadian number one Kyle Legault. The Midlanders also have ex-Diamond Phil Morris out injured.

Diamonds team boss George English said: “I’m looking for our lads to carry on where they left off on Monday and take to this match with the same determined attitude.”

Meanwhile, table-toppers Berwick Bandits have refused to let their recent success go to their heads and, to add a little firepower tonight, have done away with rider replacement cover for Italian Guglielmo Franchetti to bring back gritty Yorkshireman Scott Smith.

‘Scud’, as he is better known, will begin his third period as a Bandit mounted on the newest engines that arrived at his workshop yesterday. Smith began the year with the Workington Comets but had a foul run of luck as he awaited his new equipment arriving, and his Cumbrian bosses would not wait and dispensed with his services last week, playing right into the Bandits’ hands.

Smith has cult hero status on Tweedside due to his superb adaptation to the Berwick track, pulling off some of the most amazing moves to pass opponents in years gone by.

Smith comes into the line-up at reserve due to his three-and-a-half point average, sending current in-form reserve Finn Tero Aarnio up into the main body of the team in time for his debut which comes at home this Saturday night against the Isle of Wight Islanders.

Berwick boss Peter Waite said: “Having Scud back with the Bandits could really ignite our season and give us the firepower to remain at the top of the league for a very long time. This is an excellent signing for the Bandits.”

BIRMINGHAM BRUMMIES: 1 Bager; 2 Smart; 3 Lyons; 4 Morris rider replacement; 5 Roynon; 6, Hargreaves; 7 Capanese.

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: 1 Franc; 2 Stancl rider replacement; 3 Henry; 4 King; 5 Giffard (guest); 6 Robertson; 7 Stoddart.