(SPEEDWAY 1)

SCOTT Nicholls marked his return to Coventry with a paid maximum in the Bees 56-39 Midland League win over local rivals Birmingham.Nicholls reeled off five unbeaten rides with team-mates Edward Kennett and Aaron Summers both also winning three races, whilst the Brummies’ main threat came from skipper Danny King who scored 16.Nicholls said: “It would be nice if we could do that every week – it’s a shame in some respects that it wasn’t in the Elite League, but you take the positives and it was a fantastic team performance.“Birmingham aren’t a weak side, they’ve got some strong riders there but we were the better side. Everyone did their bit, and although it’s early days and nobody wants to do anything silly at this stage, the positive signs are there for a good season.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

PLYMOUTH staged a dramatic late fightback to snatch a draw from their home League Cup opener against Rye House.The Rockets led 41-31 with three heats to go, but the home side finished with back-to-back 5-1s as Ben Barker and Ryan Fisher got the better of Leigh Lanham and Ricky Kling in the finale.Devils promoter Mike Bowden said: “Rye House must have thought they had it won and they will be kicking themselves. But it provided superb entertainment for the public with some tremendous team riding by Ben and Ryan in the last heat decider.”Rockets boss John Sampford said: “To take two points on the road with an under-strength side is a big plus, but it doesn’t feel that way at the moment. The story of the last three races is the story of the match - they got their gating boots on, and we simply stopped gating.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)SCUNTHORPE got their League Cup campaign off to a solid winning start despite a faultless individual display from Berwick’s Ricky Ashworth.The Scorpions won the meeting 53-40 having actually led by 24 points with five heats to go with Ashworth, who scored an 18-point maximum, dominating the closing stages of the meeting.Scunthorpe boss Richard Hollingsworth said: “It was a good solid performance from us tonight. My hardest decision was who to put into Heat 15, we had six riders all deserving of a place in that race. It was nice for Ash (Birks) to top our scorechart. “There was some good racing throughout the evening, commencing with a battle between Josh (Auty) and Lee Complin for second place in Heat 3. Ricky Ashworth was just superb tonight – and went from last to first in Heat 5.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

SOMERSET’S Select side shocked Elite League Swindon with a narrow 47-43 win in the second leg of their Challenge at the Oak Tree Arena.The Rebels, boosted by the inclusion of Australian ace Darcy Ward, scored 4-2s in the last two races to edge to victory, avenging their defeat at Blunsdon the previous evening.Somerset boss Steve Bishop said: “Everybody played their part and I am really proud with the way they all set about the task in hand. All the boys wanted the first home meeting of the season to be a victorious one, and they were never overawed by the fact we were facing such strong Elite League opposition. “Whilst it would be wrong to single out any particular riders, the youngsters at the bottom end of the team really rode their socks off, and with Darcy and Sam (Masters) leading from the front, I think we fully deserved our victory.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

ANDREW Tully gave Edinburgh a home winner from the Scottish Open, coming from third to first in the final heat.Tully got the better of Olly Allen at the end of lap three just when it looked like the Peterborough man would add another individual success to his Fence Fund Challenge victory at Berwick last weekend.Monarchs star Tully shot through to the delight of the crowd, with Allen holding on for second and James Grieves third.Tully said: “I felt really good to hear that, everybody cheering for me, over the moon. I was aiming for the cutback behind Olly and was picking up some speed, then he made a little mistake and I took my chance. Quality!”

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY MARCH 24:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Sheffield 7pmTYNE TWEED TROPHY 1st leg: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm

SUNDAY MARCH 25:SPRING TROPHY 1st leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pmCHALLENGE 2nd leg: Leicester v Scunthorpe 6pmTYNE TWEED TROPHY 2nd leg: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30

MONDAY MARCH 26:MIDLAND LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Birmingham 7.30

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Eastbourne 7.30CHALLENGE: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30