MIDDLESBROUGH Bears rounded off their Humber League fixtures on a positive note at Hull's Craven Park with a one point victory (18-17pts) against the (Hull) Preston Road Flyers.

The Bears, seeking revenge for a last heat defeat four weeks ago, welcomed back John Branney and Gary Flint but Jonathan Bethell had to miss the match due to sustaining cruciate ligament damage for Buxton against Peterborough three days earlier. Sheffield junior Mick Mitchell came in as a late replacement.

Berwick-based Flint was once again the Bears' hero as he raced to an unbeaten nine point maximum but John Branney had a frustrating evening; starting with a second place and then a first place in his second ride, only to be excluded by the referee after his silencer had come adrift during the race. In his third ride he borrowed Gary Flint's bike but stalled at the tapes - much to his embarrassment he had forgotten to switch the fuel tap back on! Scott Nettleship had a good battle with Ben Warbuton before getting the better of him and also managed another third place that was to prove the difference between winning and losing. Mick Mitchell provided steady support for Flint with two second places and a third.

If Hull Magic can beat the Preston Road Flyers in the one remaining fixture it means the Bears will finish second to champions Scunthorpe with two wins from five matches.

Bears' scorers: Gary Flint 9, Mick Mitchell 5, John Branney & Scott Nettleship 2.

UNLUCKY for Scott Nettleship. The Wallsend-based rider was having some extra after-meeting rides when Hull junior Phil Downes lost control on the first bend and left poor Scott nowhere to go but straight over the top. Downes was OK but Nettleship had to go to hospital but was later released with a badly bruised shin. His bike was beyond repair and meant he had to miss the Bears trip to Derbyshire for the match against Buxton.

UNLUCKY also for John Branney who's catologue of misfortune against the Preston Road Flyers saw him miss out on automatic qualification for an individual junior meeting featuring the top two riders from each member club of the Humber League. Gary Flint & Jonathan Bethell will be the Bears' representatives on Wednesday, 24 September, 2003. Prizemoney of £700 has so far been donated which will see all competing riders paid in the position they finish.

THE Bears rode against Buxton on Sunday with a much changed team. John Branney retained his place but Gary Flint was riding for Stoke in a Conference Trophy match and Scott Nettleship was still recovering from a crash four days previous. Replacements came in the form of Hull juniors Mike Pickering & Phil Downes and Sheffield youngster Ben Warbuton. It was a match the Bears should have won on the tricky 240 metre circuit but firstly John Branney fell whilst leading Heat 1 and teammate Mike Pickering had to take avoiding action, so a 5-1 was turned into a 2-3 after the referee awarded the race to Buxton's Martin McDermott. In Heat 3 it was Mike Pickering who came to grief whilst leading, thereby gifting the Hitmen a 5-1.

Buxton's No.1 Alan Brown had looped at the gate in his first ride and was badly winded so the Derbyshire side replaced him with Premier League second string Adam Allott who rides for King's Lynn. Allott, predictably won both his races but Phil Downes was the Bears' most impressive rider with a good win against Tom Hill in Heat 2 and two third places. The Bears gave Australian Under-21 runner-up Cameron Woodward an outing and he rode to an impressive victory in the final heat as the team ended on a positive note with a 5-1 to finish on the wrong end of a three point defeat (16-19).

Bears scorers: Phil Downes 5, Mike Pickering 4, Cameron Woodward 3, John Branney & Ben Warbuton 2.

FORMER Middlesbrough captain Shane Parker has won the former Middlesbrough rider of the year award as voted by the visitors to the 'Cleveland Parklife' website. Parker who rides for King's Lynn & Peterborough, was captain in 1995 & 1996, won with 34 per cent of the vote narrowly beating Somerset's Mark Lemon. The award began last year and was won by Berwick's Paul Bentley.

Another former Middlesbrough captain - Graham Jones, who cost the club £10,000 in 1994 - has made a successful comeback attempt after a seven year gap following serious injury sustained whilst riding for the Bears at Long Eaton. The Market Drayton-based Jones, now 39, was installed as captain of the Wolverhampton's Conference League team and has done so well he has also ridden in other forms of competition. Jones puts his success down to his new partner - a fitness instructor, who made him shed five stone in weight in preperation for this season.