MIDDLESBROUGH Bears contined their recent good form with another dramatic last heat victory on difficult track conditions against hosts Hull Angels at Craven Park last week.

There were a number of alarming spills but thankfully no-one was seriously injured.

Craig Branney was the Scott Bros Bears outstanding rider with an unbeaten 9pt maximum. His brother John managed a couple of good second places and Phil Downes was 'steady away'. Debutant Carl Belfield made a slow start but came good in his final ride with Craig Branney, contributing to the Bears maximum heat advantage in the final heat as both Hull riders had fallen when behind in respective races.

Bears 20: Craig Branney 9; John Branney & Phil Downes 4, Carl Belfield 3.

Hull 15: Danny Norton & Mike Pickering 6, Danny Hodgson 3, David Baker 0.

SUNDAY'S return encounter with the Crewe Kings at Buxton's Hi-Edge Raceway was a victim of the wet weather and called off at 10.15am to save the Wimbledon team travelling north to Derbyshire. Unfortunately a large number of exiled Bears supporters were unaware of the cancellation and arrived at the scheduled start time to be greeted by a deserted stadium. What was even more frustrating was that former captain Pete Reading, who spent 13 years with the club between 1968 and 1980, had agreed to attend the meeting as a special guest. A new date is to be finalised soon.

DARLINGTON-based Paul Bentley who rides in the Premier League for the Glasgow Tigers came to the club's rescue on last night. The former Boro Bears captain loaned one of his bikes for a promotional event at The Abbey (formerly the Abbey National) in Middlesbrough's Linthorpe Road. The 'Community Partnership' is a department of the Abbey which donated a cheque for £250 towards supporting the efforts of the Bears. The club's director of operations, Steve Harland, said: "It's something of a coup for a club our size to attract the attention of a nationwide organisation but we are grateful to the Abbey's 'Community Partnership' in recognition of our efforts.

WALLSEND-based Scott Nettleship has parted company with the club. The Tyneside teenager was unhappy with a decision made by the management to replace him in his final ride against Crewe Kings in the recent match at Hull. Scott made 12 appearances for the club since March 2003 and averaged a 3.56 figure.

THE Bears are back in action tonight at Elite League Oxford's Cowley Stadium having accepted an all-expenses paid invitation from Oxford promoter Nigel Wagstaff to race a four-man six heat junior match against the Oxford Academy. It's the furthest south the Bears have travelled since they reformed in August 2002.

Tonight's team: 1 Paul Cooper; 2 Phil Downes; 3 Carl Belfield; 4 John Branney.

The match starts at 9pm immediately following the Oxford Academy/Buxton Hi-Edge Hitmen Conference League Knockout Cup match.