THE Newcastle “Sapphire Engineering” Diamonds embark on one of their longest travels of the season when they visit the Oak Tree Arena tonight to face the Somerset Rebels in the Premier League.
The Diamonds will find this match a tough one, as the Rebels will want to exact quick revenge over the team who handed them a 55-37 beating when Somerset visited the Newcastle Stadium at the end of their recent Northern Tour, and at the same time extend their unbeaten start to the season to a record-breaking 13 matches.
All eyes will be on Newcastle’s new boy as the Diamonds have, with immediate effect, replaced their former number one, Steve Boxall, with the young Danish rider, René Bach, who will make his debut tonight.
Newcastle’s other young Dane, Kenni Larsen, has enjoyed a decidedly satisfactory start to his 2009 campaign and is undoubtedly the best mentor for Bach in these early days on Tyneside.
Somerset have no injury worries ahead of tonight’s fixture, Simon Walker’s troublesome shoulder injury having stood up to the rigors of two meetings in as many days over last weekend, and have named a full strength side for the match, while the Diamonds too are running at full strength.
Newcastle team manager George English said: “The atmosphere within the side is on the up at the moment and we’re getting this season back on track after a somewhat undesirable start.
“And while yes, down at Somerset tonight we’re going into a seriously hard match, we will be getting our heads right into gear and giving it our best shot from heat one onwards.
“One thing is for certain, the quality of the racing tonight will be right out of the top drawer.”
Team Line-ups (not in confirmed riding order) including current match averages:
SOMERSET REBELS: Emil Kramer (8.68), Steve Johnston (Captain) (8.57), Cory Gathercole (7.68), Simon Walker (6.52), Jay Herne (3.60), Justin Sedgmen (3.53), Tom Brown (3.14).
NEWCASTLE “SAPPHIRE ENGINEERING” DIAMONDS: Rene Bach (7.00), Kenni Larsen (7.00), Jason King (Captain) (6.98), Derek Sneddon (6.04), Trent Leverington (4.60), Craig Branney (4.59), Adam McKinna (3.00).
