THE much abused phrase "We wuz robbed" has never been truer than at the Goshen Cycle Speedway track, when Bury-Pedal Sport were cruelly deprived of their place in the quarter-final of the British Team Championship.

The match with Eaton, from Norwich, East Anglia, was marred from the start when an unfortunate choice by the governing body placed a referee in charge of the match, this referee being involved in a dispute with one of Bury's riders. Protests from the club were over-ruled and the match went ahead.

After a brilliant opening heat when Ben Scranage and Mark Rushby both came through from the back to take a sensational 7.3 over the country's hottest rider, Darren Slater, it was going to be a thrilling cup tie. By the interval, Bury were eight points down and things were boiling up.

Their worst fears materialised when three times in separate places, Fred Rothwell had crashed on the first bend and the referee had allowed the races to continue instead of calling for a re-run with all four riders.

Amazingly, Bury stages a brilliant fight-back and after three races following the interval, they were just one point adrift. Following three nervous 5-5 shared heats, all hell broke loose as the closing three heats degenerated into chaos.

In heat 16, after an Eaton rider had been excluded for barging into Ben Scranage, the race was re-run. With Bury on inside grids one and three, Ben Scranage. Despite ferocious protests, Fred won the heat for 4.3 and the scores were level. Bury should have had a 7-0 with both Eaton riders excluded.

In heat 17, race leader Daniel Pike of Eaton, visibly slowed causing the following riders to bunch up, and John Whiting of Bury was excluded for obstructing his opponent. More protests as the race result was awarded.

In the final race, with Bury three points down, the clearest breach breach of the rules yet occurred. Eaton's Elliott Jones was excluded for "dumping" Neil Howarth, but didn't leave the track, completing the four laps.

A clear 7-0 to Bury was indicated by the rules, but no! The referee allowed the result to stand as the riders finished 5-4 to Bury.

Deprived of two certain 7-0s in the last three heats, it is no wonder Bury lost 86-88, amid much bitter feeling and accusations.

It has to be said that the Eaton team were not at fault, they were no more than normally competitive in such an important match, but oh the referee! The letters of protest and appeal have already been written -- for all the good it will do.

Mark Rushby 16+2, Paul Dyson 14+3, Neil Howarth 14+1, Ben Scranage 13+1, Fred Rothwell 9, Steve Muff 9, John Whiting 7+1, Robert Pearce 4.

A few days before this traumatic occasion, Bury were celebrating a glorious victory over another long distance travelling visitor, Hellingly Lions from Eastbourne, in national league figures. With an excellent turn-out, Bury were able to track two completely separate eight-man teams. In the combination (second team) league, Bury won 78-42. Matthew Par 16, Steve Mann 15, Tom Doyle 10+2, Scott Jarman 9+3, Dave Morgan 9+2, Simon Rothwell 8+2, Gary Hollingsworth 6, Dave O'Callaghan 5+1.

The first division match also went Bury's way with 108-67 final score. Fred Rothwell 19+1, Ben Scranage 18, Neil Howarth 17+2, Mark Rushby 13, John Whiting 12+2, Robert Pearce 11+2, Steve Muff 10, Paul Dyson 8.

Bury youngster, Tom Doyle, who has been in great form recently in both under-16 and senior racing, got an unexpected honour this week when he was called up to ride for the senior Ireland team in the home international event at Newport.

Tom scored only four points from three rides against strong senior opposition as Ireland finished last with 26 points behind England 58, Scotland 53, and Wales 39.