(SPEEDWAY 1)
SWINDON will take a narrow lead back to Blunsdon for the second leg of their SGB Premiership play-off semi-final – after a 46-44 win at Poole on Monday.
But that result represented a major recovery act from the Pirates, who found themselves ten points down with two heats to go before giving themselves renewed hope with 5-1s in Heats 14 and 15.
The hosts dropped points from positions of maximum advantage in the first two races, and paid the price when the Robins took control in mid-meeting.
Alun Rossiter’s side provided just five race winners, but three of them were in 5-1 advantages, including a thriller in Heat 7 when Tobiasz Musielak held off Paul Starke in a blanket finish to combine with David Bellego.
Guest Kyle Newman and Nick Morris extended the lead to eight points in Heat 9, and when Morris and Jason Doyle raced clear of Hans Andersen and Brady Kurtz in Heat 13, the Pirates’ prospects looked bleak.
But Starke, who won his last two rides, teamed up with Edward Kennett over Bellego in Heat 14 to reduce the arrears – and then Andersen and Kurtz turned the tables on Doyle in Heat 15 with Musielak retiring on the first lap.
Musielak (10+1) and Doyle (10) were top-scorers for the Robins, whilst Kurtz (10+1) and Andersen (10) scored double figure for the Pirates.
Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “Everybody was saying what we’re going to do, but as you saw Poole came back strongly at the end, and fair play to them.
“It will be a really tough task back at home, and we certainly won’t be taking them lightly. We’ve got to up our game a bit now.
“I’m not making excuses, but we had three riders in scoring positions have their seats break, and I’ve never known so many seats go in a night. But that’s the way it is, it’s 46-44 and it’s all to go for at the Abbey.
“I think we’ll be fine at Swindon, we’ve got a meeting there on Thursday and now we need to make sure we don’t shut off, and get ourselves focussed.”
Poole manager Neil Middleditch said: “The boys really dug deep, and we never gave up. We had some slip-ups tonight but all in all it was a good performance because Swindon are a great team.
“I knew if my boys could make the start they could get there, and we proved that in the last two races.
“It’s absolutely not over – six weeks ago nobody gave us a chance of getting here, so to be two points down after that, I’ve got to say I’m pretty happy with that.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
KENT took another step closer to the National League play-offs with a 50-40 win over Plymouth at Central Park.
The Kings have moved up to third place with three matches to go, and can now only be overhauled by Lakeside and Mildenhall – although the Fen Tigers are currently ten points behind.
Ben Hopwood (12) and Jack Thomas (10) top-scored for the hosts as they covered a rare off-night for captain Luke Bowen, whilst Adam Roynon raced to 13+1 from five rides for the Devils.
Roynon and Steve Boxall combined for 5-1s in Heats 13 and 15 but a maximum from Dan Greenwood and George Hunter in the intervening race ensured the visitors would leave with no points.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
WOLVERHAMPTON are one of three SGB Premiership clubs chasing the top-flight double over the coming weeks.
Wolves head to Belle Vue next Monday for the first leg of their play-off semi-final, and they then host Somerset on Wednesday September 20 in the last four of the KO Cup.
The Aces and Swindon are also in the frame for both major honours, as they race the first leg of their Cup semi this Thursday.
Wolves skipper Fredrik Lindgren said: “It’s an exciting time for everyone at the club and we’ll be looking to get through both semi-finals to have the chance of winning the league and cup double.”
(FIXTURES)
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 7pm, 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
Results Monday September 11, 2017;
SGB PREMIERSHIP PLAY OFF SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg
Poole 44 (Brady Kurtz 10+1)
Swindon 46 (Tobiasz Musielak 10+1)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cradley v Eastbourne - OFF
Kent 50 (Ben Hopwood 12)
Plymouth 40 (Adam Roynon 13+1)
National League points: Kent 3 Plymouth 0
