BRAVE ISLANDERS BATTLE TO VICTORY

By Bryn Williams - Wednesday, May 14, 2008
WIGHTLINK Islanders overcame a 14-point deficit in the second leg of their Knock-out Cup tie with Sheffield Tigers, winning 54-38 yesterday (Tuesday).
Despite missing Paul Fry through injuries sustained in the horror crash at Berwick last weekend, the Islanders were boosted by the return of Kryzsztof Stojanowski.
The popular Pole put in a brave performance, riding through the pain of his shoulder injury to score six vital points.
Glen Phillips, Aussie Cory Gathercole and skipper Jason Bunyan chalked-up race wins on a regular basis to put the Islanders into a 48-32 lead with two races left.
But things looked ominous when in heat 14, the Islanders could only track the reserve pairing of Bargh and Holder, while Sheffield opted to bring in skipper Andre Compton as a tactical substitute off a 15-metre handicap to bring them back into the time.
By going off the handicap, all Compton had to do was to finish ahead of one or both of the home riders and any points he scored would be doubled.
But it was to be the Islanders night, as Compton crashed out on the final lap and the referee gave a maximum points win to the Islanders, sending them through to the next round against Workington.
The Islanders’ next match is on Tuesday, May 20, at home in the league to Redcar Bears, at 7.30pm.

BRAVE ISLANDERS BATTLE TO VICTORY

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