POSTPONEMENT - MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11:

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cradley v Eastbourne - OFF

(SPEEDWAY 1)

FIERCE rivals Poole and Swindon clash in the first leg of the SGB Premiership play-offs at Wimborne Road tonight (Monday).
The Robins got the better of the Pirates to win the Grand Final in 2012 before Poole hit back at the semi-final stage the following year by putting Swindon out en route to the first of a hat-trick of titles.
Last season the Robins failed to make the play-offs but 2017 has seen them top the table after the regular 28 matches; whilst Poole’s late run of form enabled them to edge out Rye House for the vital fourth place.
The Pirates have, however, been beaten six times on their home circuit this season, including twice by the Robins.
Poole name a full-strength side whilst Swindon are boosted by the return from injury of Bradley Wilson-Dean, and Mitchell Davey continues as a guest for Zach Wajtknecht.
Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “I am delighted that the lads proved me wrong when I questioned their ability to even win another meeting, let alone make the play-offs. They have shown great character to bounce back.
“It was no surprise to me that Swindon chose us as their semi-final opponents and we probably do begin as underdogs but that is fine by me. I am sure Rosco (Alun Rossiter) needs no reminding what the underdogs did in 2010.”
Rossiter said: “I’m sure everyone else will see it as us thinking Poole are the weakest team, but we don’t feel like that at all.
“We respect any of our opponents, and I proved it in 2010 when we were 26 points behind everybody at Coventry and won the league.
“We know anything can happen in the play-offs, but we spoke to the boys and felt we’d be a little bit more comfortable at Poole.
“We’re going to have to be confident and go there with a positive mindset, so we’ll make sure we’re ready to do the job.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

EDINBURGH pulled off a dramatic comeback to win at Scunthorpe and give their SGB Championship play-off hopes a massive boost.
The Monarchs trailed 23-31 after nine races at the Eddie Wright Raceway but reeled off two 4-2s and then two 5-1s to take the lead – and guest Richie Worrall and Erik Riss then scored another 5-1 in Heat 15 for a 49-41 win and all four league points.
Worrall, in for Sam Masters, scored 13 and was unbeaten after his first ride, whilst Riss (10+3) and Ricky Wells (10+1) also hit double figures.
Jake Allen made a successful home debut for the Scorpions with 11 from four rides but was unable to prevent a tenth defeat on their own circuit this season.
Monarchs, meanwhile, are now five points ahead of fifth-placed Redcar who only have three away matches remaining.
Edinburgh boss John Campbell said: “It was an outstanding performance after the disappointment at Berwick (on Saturday) night.
“Mitchell Davey turned things round in an inspired heat 12 ride, and Richie Worrall was a great guest, very much part of the team. He was asking me over the latter heats what we needed to win.
“At one point with the drizzle falling I think Scunthorpe wanted to call it off, but I said we certainly don't want that - I think we can win this!”
Allen said: “It was a good day for me and nice to finally ride in a home meeting for Scunthorpe. Last year, when I came here for Somerset, I didn’t have a good meeting and only scored one point. But I put that to the back of mind, I just concentrated on making some good starts and took it from there.
“My wrist still isn’t quite 100 per cent, which is why I wasn’t in Heat 15. It was a bit sore by then and I’ve got to be careful.
“As for the team, we started off well enough today, but Edinburgh rode it better later on.”
Meanwhile Peterborough secured a 51-42 win over Workington at the East of England Arena.
Jack Holder played a starring role on his return to the Panthers side with a 15-point haul, reeling off four successive victories before seeing his maximum hopes dashed by rival number one Craig Cook in heat 13.
Paul Starke added ten for the hosts as they covered the absence of Chris Harris with rider-replacement, whilst Cook racked up 16 for the Comets with Ty Proctor adding 11+1.
Peterborough owner Ged Rathbone said: “It has been a tough few weeks, but we’re kick-starting our season again with the aim of picking up more silverware.
“The KO Cup is the most important competition for us now and picking up league wins is only helping us to build momentum.
“We’ve produced a couple of good home performances in a row and could have won both meetings – against Glasgow and Workington – by bigger margins.
“It’s important to pick up results in front of our own supporters as we need them on side – and we’re showing that there is no way we will just let the season fade out.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

MILDENHALL kept their National League play-off hopes alive with a 60-28 win over heavily depleted Cradley at West Row on Sunday.
The Fen Tigers are seven points behind fourth placed Lakeside with four matches remaining, whilst the Heathens now need to win their last two fixtures to stand any chance.
A combination of injuries, illnesses and clashing fixtures led to the visitors only being able to track one of their regular riders – and that only because Danny Ayres’ Championship meeting for Redcar was postponed.
The hosts unsurprisingly dominated with youngster Jordan Jenkins leading the way on 14 points, with Connor Mountain and Drew Kemp both on 10+2 and Jon Armstrong on 10+1. Guest Connor Coles collected 13 for the Heathens.
Mildenhall co-promoter Kevin Jolly said: “I don’t like our paying public having to witness such an unbalanced meeting, but this really was out of our hands and there was no option but to run the meeting.
“That said, the lads put in a very professional performance with all six getting at least two paid wins as we rattled off twelve heat wins in the afternoon.
“We will take each meeting as it comes now and see where we finish but whilst there is a mathematical chance of us making the play-offs we will keep pushing for them.”
Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “We had two experienced riders in Danny Ayres and Connor Coles who did a solid job.
“But we didn’t have any other option apart from using unattached three-pointers who are just starting out in the sport to fill the other positions.
“It was always going to be a long afternoon, and we weren’t helped by the late withdrawal of Joe Lawlor. It’s very frustrating as we should be putting out stronger teams than we are, but there’s nothing we can do about it at the moment.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

EASTBOURNE can go top of the National League if they win a vital fixture for both sides at Cradley tonight (Monday).
The Eagles are just one point behind leaders Belle Vue with three matches in hand, and they visit Monmore with the hosts needing a victory to maintain any hopes of a play-off place.
Cradley have Tom Bacon guesting for the injured Tom Perry with Richard Hall and Luke Harris back from grasstrack duty.
Boss Will Pottinger said: “This is the chance we need to keep a bit of pressure on the teams above us.
“We’ve got to get the three points and then hope we can get something at the Isle of Wight next week – we may just make it then, which would be unbelievable with everything we’ve had to cope with.
“I know we were stuffed at Mildenhall but we didn’t have a team – we’ve got riders back tonight and we’ll give it everything we’ve got with the help of our fans.
“They can make a big difference so the lads and me want every Cradley fan there to get behind us. We’ll be giving it our best.”
Meanwhile third-placed Kent can take another step towards the play-offs when they host Plymouth at Central Park.
The Kings have won eight of their last nine league matches dating back to early July, the sole exception coming when they went down 47-43 in the reverse fixture against the Devils at the St Boniface Arena.

(SPEEDWAY 5)

AMERICAN legend Greg Hancock is to make a special visit to Glasgow for their home match against Ipswich on Wednesday.
The four-time World Champion, who has enjoyed spells for British clubs Cradley, Coventry, Oxford, Reading and Poole during his stellar career, has developed links with the Tigers over recent years and will appear at Ashfield this week.
Hancock said: “I'm really excited and honoured to make a trip to Glasgow for the home match on Wednesday.
“Over these last two years, the good people from Glasgow Allied Tigers, Grant Henderson and the great Gordon Pairman have backed me during the British GP in Cardiff - which I am totally grateful for.
“I couldn't have a better group of people with so much enthusiasm behind me. Gordon and I have talked about my appearance in Glasgow for some time now and I finally managed to get a free date.
“Most of the British fans in general and the Scottish fans have just accepted me no matter what, just for racing in the UK, and I've been up in Glasgow and Edinburgh quite a few times. Now with this association, you kind of feel like you're one of them - and that's pretty nice.”

(FIXTURES)

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
SGB PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEM-FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Swindon 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Eastbourne 7.30, Kent v Plymouth 6.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Ipswich 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.15, Sheffield v Ipswich (follows previous fixture)
TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Birmingham 7.15

Sunday September 10, 2017

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Peterborough 51 (Jack Holder 15)
Workington 42 (Craig Cook 16)
SGB Championship points: Peterborough 3 Workington 0

Scunthorpe 41 (Jake Allen 11)
Edinburgh 49 (Richie Worrall 13)
SGB Championship points: Scunthorpe 0 Edinburgh 4

Sheffield v Ipswich - OFF
Re-staging date: Thursday September 14
(To immediately follow Sheffield v Edinburgh, 7.15pm)

Sheffield v Redcar - OFF
Re-staging date: Monday September 18, 7.45pm

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Buxton v Kent - OFF

Mildenhall 60 (Jordan Jenkins 14)
Cradley 28 (Connor Coles 13)
National League points: Mildenhall 3 Cradley 0