WEYMOUTH Doonan Wildcats manager Jem Dicken reckons his men are in with a "strong chance" of challenging for this season's Conference League title.
The Wildcats welcome the Somerset Giants to the Wessex Stadium tonight for a final challenge match ahead of Monday's league opener at the Scunthorpe Scorpions.
Last week the Radipole Lane outfit beat a Newport Mavericks select team 50-42 and that has raised confidence in the camp after beginning the campaign with a disappointing 110-68 aggregate defeat against the Plymouth Devils in the Devon & Dorset Cup.
Dicken said: "We need the whole team firing and speaking to the lads after last week's meeting they were quietly confident. I think we are in with a strong chance."
Tim Webster was the shining light again last Saturday, scoring 12 paid one but club chairman Phil Bartlett is delighted with how the whole side is progressing.
He added: "Last week we saw the lads starting to gel as a team. Although I don't want to single out any one performance, Tim has so far exceeded our expectations and Brendan Johnson has been doing well in the awkward number two slot.
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"Luke Priest is also riding as if he has never been away and Jon Armstrong and Jay Herne have both done exactly what I knew they would.
"Meanwhile, Karl Mason has had
multiple mechanical problems and has sent his engines for a re-build. I know he has the ability he just needs to get rid of the gremlins."
The Wildcats will make one change to their line-up tonight with Matt Bates replacing Alex McLeod, who failed to register in four races against Newport.
Kyle Newman, who is recovering from a broken collarbone, will not ride but he could be available for Monday's trip to Scunthorpe.
Bartlett said: "Kyle had a test ride last night at Somerset and he has been declared into Monday's meeting but we shall just have to see how he feels and that is why Matt Bates is on standby.
"We will certainly miss Kyle's services if he is not available but only he knows how he feels and whether he can ride to the full.
"There is a long way to go and there is no pressure on him whatsoever but he is desperate to come back and ride as soon as possible and hopefully he will be fit enough to do that on Monday."
Wildcats: 1 Jon Armstrong, 2 Brendan Johnson, 3 Luke Priest, 4 Karl Mason, 5 Jay Herne, 6 Tim Webster, 7 Matt Bates.
Giants: 1 Shaun Harmatiuk, 2 Marc Andrews, 3 Mark Simmonds, 4 Jack Roberts, 5 Andrew Bargh, 6 James Williams, 7 Andy Braithwaite.
Posted by: castrol r, dorchester on 12:10am Sun 4 May 08
A good meeting for us with barghy and the american shaun harmatiuk very good for the rebels pity jack roberts was at brummie although i think the result might have been different if he had been here tonight still we have our own up and coming star in mr kyle newman and hes back very soon looking forward to it
A good meeting for us with barghy and the american shaun harmatiuk very good for the rebels pity jack roberts was at brummie although i think the result might have been different if he had been here tonight still we have our own up and coming star in mr kyle newman and hes back very soon looking forward to it
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