GEMS BAG ANOTHER BRANNEY

Co-Promoter Dave Rowland, who looks after the Newcastle Gems along with team manager Kenny Smith, is delighted to announce the signing of 16-year-old John Branney, brother of Craig, the man at the top of the Gems’ averages.

Gems coach Kevin Little had a long chat with John and convinced him there is no better place to learn speedway skills than in the Conference at Brough Park.

Unfortunately, neither of the Branney brothers will be at Brough Park this Sunday for the match against Newport Mavericks (2 pm) as Craig is riding for Hull at Rye House and there is too much distance and not enough time between Workington, Newcastle and Rye House, the three points on their travelling triangle, for John to be dropped off.

John comes into the Gems squad to effectively replace former coach Rob Grant senior who, in fact, never turned out for the side.

Tonight (Thursday) at Wimbledon, both Craig Branney  and William .Lawson get a chance to book a place in the Conference League Riders’ Final next month when they ride in the semi-final.

Lawson should have been involved in the earlier semi-final at Buxton but was delayed on his journey home from an Under-16 event in Sweden, so has been allowed to switch.

Rowland and Smith are asking supporters to turn up on Sunday morning from 10 o’clock to help cover the greyhound track and put up the fence boards, so the match with the Mavericks can start promptly at 2 pm.