Wightlink Islanders' young Aussie James Holder, who has had such a fine first season racing in the Premier League, has finally had to admit that the only cure for his wrist injury is rest.

The 22 year old from Appin in New South Wales crashed during Jason Bunyan's Testimonial meeting at the Wave 105 Smallbrook stadium on August 19 and hospital doctors diagnosed a possible broken scaphoid. *

However James being a typical speedway rider has since tried to carry on riding despite being in constant pain and having his arm/wrist encased in plaster upon visiting hospital following his appearance in last Tuesday's 56-37 home victory over Stoke in which he scored 4 (paid 7) from four rides. 24 hours later he rode in the Islanders away defeat at King's Lynn but struggled badly, failing to score from his three rides and has now admitted that he must take a break from racing and allow the injury to heal.

Quite how long he'll be out of action remains to be seen with several medical sources indicating various rehabilitation periods ranging from six to twelve weeks.

"It's so unlucky for James to have picked up this injury at this stage of the season," said Wightlink Islanders co-promoter Dave Pavitt, "as he really has done so well in his first season racing for us.

"He started the season at reserve but such was his form that the forced his way out of that position into the main body of the team and, but for this injury I feel sure he would have continued to improve still further.

"You cannot help but admire his bravery in trying to carry on despite the handicap but wisely he has now decided that he must take time out and concentrate on getting fully fit again."

* NOTE: The scaphoid is a kidney shaped bone and sits below the thumb. A scaphoid fracture often occurs when a individual falls on an outstretched arm. Scaphoid fractures account for about 60 percent of all wrist (carpal) fractures and is a common injury in speedway accidents.

BUT CORY RETURNS!

At least the news of James Holder's enforced period on the sidelines has been counteracted by the fact that his fellow Australian Wightlink Islander Cory Gathercole was given the green light to resume racing by doctors who operated on the broken hand he sustained in our home victory over Scunthorpe back on July 8 when he saw them last Wednesday.

Following his injury we were given permission to bring in another young Aussie, Richard Sweetman, to temporarily replace him and now Cory comes back into our declared 1-7 with Richard now effectively replacing the unfortunately injured James Holder in our declared 1 to 7.

AND RETURNS IN STYLE AS ISLAND SELECT SIDE TAME THE WILDCATS IN A THRILLER!

Yes Cory made his track return tonight as part of a Wightlink Islanders select side in action in an inter-league challenge at the Radipole Lane home of the Conference League side, the Weymouth Wildcats. Cory was joined by skipper Jason Bunyan, reserves Andrew Bargh and Richard Sweetman and the side was completed by the addition of former Newport rider Nick Simmons and juniors Russell Barnett and Gary Cottham.

Although naturally somewhat rusty having been out of action for so long, Cory showed he's more than ready for a full-time return by scoring 14 points in what was a highly competitive and entertaining match.

So competitive in fact that it all came down to a last heat decider with the Wightlink Islanders needing a heat advantage to clinch victory and that they duly achieved with skipper Bunyan taking the win to complete a faultless 15 point maximum and being followed home in second place by partner Richard Sweetman to clinch the match by 48 points to 45.

And, as an added bonus Jason Bunyan broke the existing track record at the Dorset circuit, setting a new fastest time for the four laps of 51.3 in heat 13, slicing a massive 0.9secs off of the previous record 0f 52.2 secs set by Eastbourne's Lewis Bridger 0n 11th May 2007.

MATCH DETAILS:

Final Score: Weymouth Wildcats 45 Wightlink Islanders 48
(Inter-League Challenge)

Weymouth scorers (in riding order - No. of rides in brackets): Lee Smart 9+1 (5), Matthew Wright 2 (4), Luke Priest 8 (4), Karl Mason 5+2 (4), Jay Herne 7+1 (4), Brendan Johnson 5+2 (4), Kyle Newman 9+2 (5)

IOW scorers (in riding order - No. of rides in brackets): Jason Bunyan 15 (5), Andrew Bargh 5+1 (4), Cory Gathercole 14+1 (inc a 6pt tactical ride) (4), Richard Sweetman 9+1 (5), Nick Simmons 2 (4), Gary Cottham 2 (4), Russell Barnett 1 (4).