(SPEEDWAY 1)
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams says their play-off approach will not change – despite the postponement of Monday’s semi-final at Belle Vue.
Rain in Manchester means Wolves will now host the first leg at Monmore next Monday, with the return at the National Speedway Stadium on Wednesday September 27.
Adams said: “As frustrating as it may be, there's nothing we can do about bad weather, and it will forever be the biggest enemy of our sport.
"So while we'd opted to go to Belle Vue first, the postponement now means that they'll come to us next Monday but it doesn't change our approach. We still want to win the fixture no matter where we are - but it won't be easy.
“Play-off nights at Monmore Green under the floodlights are always a special occasion and I'm sure next Monday won't be any different in what should be a fantastic night of speedway.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue star Steve Worrall says there was no doubt about the decision to postpone the first leg of the Aces’ play-off semi-final against Wolverhampton.
The National Speedway Stadium circuit was left saturated by a heavy pre-meeting downpour, with the call-off coming shortly before 7pm.
Worrall said: “We’ve had plenty of meetings here under difficult circumstances and we’ve negotiated some very tricky weather in the past, but unfortunately conditions were just too far gone this time.
“The track was so wet and the rain was unabating. This is such an important meeting for both teams and to have even attempted to race would’ve been too risky and not great for the cameras.
“We want to give the fans and all the viewers the best meeting we can so I think the right decision was made, and to be honest we’re just as pumped up about having Monmore as the first leg.
“We can go there with no pressure on our shoulders. We know and ride their track very well so this could very much work in our favour. We just need to pray for some better weather next week.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SHEFFIELD promoter Damien Bates expects a tough test for his side against Glasgow in the SGB Championship play-offs.
The Owlerton side have chosen to face their fellow Tigers in the semi-finals, having recently won at Ashfield despite tracking a depleted side on the night.
Bates said: “When the play-offs get underway, the whole season starts again and everything you’ve done beforehand counts for nothing.
“Glasgow have been hit by a fair few injuries of late and their results have suffered as a consequence. But their form doesn’t mean a thing and despite some of their recent results, we definitely won’t be taking anything for granted over the two legs.
“We want to be on the front foot and hit them hard early on at Owlerton this Thursday and it’s important we build up as a big a lead as we possibly can.
“It’s certainly going to be a tense but exciting couple of meetings and fingers crossed the team can just ride how we know they’re capable of.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins knows the danger provided by Edinburgh when the sides meet this week in the SGB Championship play-offs.
The Monarchs are the only opposing team to have won at Foxhall this season, although the Witches have also got close on both of their trips to Armadale.
Hawkins said: “Edinburgh have the best record of anyone at Foxhall and hopefully we use the defeat to make us sharper, but this is a play-off semi-final and whoever we raced was always going to give us a run for our money and be up for it.
“We need to put in the kind of performance we did against them in last season’s play-offs. We were terrific in that home leg and something like that will be great.
“I would have been happy to face anyone really as I feel we have enough to win over two legs, but Edinburgh it is!”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
KENT overcame Birmingham 49-41 in the ‘Revenge Challenge’ clash at Central Park on Monday.
The scores were level after ten races before the Kings pulled clear, with the Brummies’ Liam Carr withdrawing due to machinery damage after a third-ride crash.
Ben Hopwood (12+1), Jack Thomas (12) and Luke Bowen (10+1) were all in double figures for the hosts, whilst the Brummies’ scoring was dominated by reserve Taylor Hampshire, who piled up 15+2, and Tom Bacon on 14+1.
Bacon said: “It was good to get another meeting, and we did well but just didn’t quite have enough in the end.
“A couple of us had really good meetings and everyone put in 100 per cent effort as we have done all season, but the tail was just a bit long in the end.
“Kent are a good side, especially at home, so it wasn’t a bad effort and it was an enjoyable night.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Wolverhampton v Somerset 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30, Sheffield v Glasgow 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Cradley 7pm
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Somerset v Wolverhampton 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Peterborough 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15
Results Monday September 18, 2017
SGB PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg
Belle Vue v Wolverhampton - OFF
Re-staging date: Wednesday September 27, 7.30pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheffield v Redcar - OFF
REVENGE CHALLENGE
Kent 49 (Ben Hopwood 12+1)
Birmingham 41 (Taylor Hampshire 15+2)
