Devils Looking To Bounce Back

PREVIEW Saturday 16th April 2022, 1:06pm

by Graham Muncie

The Stellar Devils go looking for a modicum of revenge this evening as they make the trip to Shielfield to take on the Berwick Bullets in NDL action.

The Bullets are one of the favourites for the title this year and already sit top of the tree after their big victory at Armadale last Friday was backed up by a comfortable home victory over Oxford on Saturday and it looks like the Borders men will be there or there abouts once again.

Kyle Bickley leads the way for the Bullets and is ably backed up by Greg Blair and Luke Crang in a powerhouse heat leader trio. Ably backed up by Kieran Douglas and Ben Rathbone there is no weak link in the main body of the Bullets team.

The main talking point of the year so far for the Bullets though has been the bursting onto the scene of Ace Pijper, just 15 years old and making his first foray into competitive 500cc action the son of Theo has been in blistering form with 9 and 7 point returns so far and this powerful punch at the bottom end has many tipping the Bullets for glory.

For the Devils where improvement from that home defeat to the Bullets is needed is clear to see, 32 of the 38 points on that night came from the Danny Phillips, Tom Woolley and William Lawson in the heat leader positions so any boost in scoring needs to come lower down the ranks.

Josh Embleton had a solid debut with a paid 4 return but key man for the Devils is undoubtedly George Rothery, everyone has seen what the Cumbrian is capable off and he really burst onto the scene in this very fixture last year as he romped to a paid 13 score. A mixture of knocks and machinery issues have taken some of the lustre from his recent performances though and a return to form would be well welcomed for both the Devils and of course Rothery himself.

The Millar brothers continue their speedway education at the reserve berth both looking for better performances than they delivered at Armadale last week with only 1 point each for their efforts, it has since been revealed that Gregor was suffering from illness the effects hopefully now over and a stronger showing can come from both.

A tough task definitely awaits the Devils then as they look to be the first to claim anything from the Bullets this year for those not in attendance live updates will be available on the Devils website with tapes up coming shortly after the conclusion of the Championship fixture between the Bandits and Monarchs.

Stellar Devils: Danny Phillips, Josh Embleton, Tom Woolley. George Rothery, William Lawson, Gregor Millar, Lewis Millar

Berwick Bullets: Kyle Bickley, Kieran Douglas, Ben Rathbone, Greg Blair, Luke Crang, Mason Watson, Ace Pijper