(SPEEDWAY 1)
PETERBOROUGH clinched the SGB Championship KO Cup as the Final went down to a last-heat decider at Ipswich.
The Panthers took a narrow four-point lead into the second leg but secured a 45-45 draw at Foxhall for their second major silverware of the season following the Championship Fours in August.
The Witches’ misfortune continued with skipper Danny King crashing out of the meeting in Heat 6 in a tangle with team-mate Nathan Greaves, the home No.1 suffering a suspected broken wrist.
Ipswich still moved into a four-point aggregate lead but the Panthers bagged a 5-1 in Heat 10 from Paul Starke and Ulrich Ostergaard, and moved back ahead overall in the next race.
Witches guest Scott Nicholls and Cameron Heeps required a 5-1 in the last race to level the aggregate scores, but although Nicholls took the win Chris Harris and Ben Barker packed the minor places with Heeps coming to grief on the last lap.
Ostergaard said: “It was fantastic to win the Fours on our own track. To follow it up with another piece of silverware against our local rivals is brilliant.
“It is the perfect end to the season we all wanted and we had a bit of luck on our side.
“We wanted to come to Ipswich with a bigger lead and we didn't feel we did well enough in the first leg. But we made up for it by battling so hard at a track where we have had a few heavy defeats in recent years.
“We're all one big family and it was great to see so many Panthers supporters here to roar us on. This trophy is for them.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
GLASGOW star Richard Lawson insists the Tigers will be going all-out to complete the season with a win over Workington at Ashfield tonight (Friday).
The re-arranged SGB Championship fixture is the last meeting of the campaign in the second tier, and a win for Glasgow would take them above local rivals Edinburgh into third place in the final table.
Lawson said: “You always think about your last meeting and you don't want to go into a long break in the winter after a bad one, so everyone will be up for a good meeting. It would just be nice to go out in a winning fashion.
“The silverware is missing and everyone is disappointed that we didn't win anything, but everyone needs to remember how far the club has come in such a short space of time.
“I think speedway in Glasgow is as good as it's ever been, so just because we don't have that trophy in the cabinet doesn't mean it's been a bad year.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
STOKE host a bumper double-header at Loomer Road tonight (Friday) as three teams scrap to avoid the National League wooden spoon.
The Potters, who are currently bottom, can overhaul both Buxton and the Isle of Wight with the clash with the Hitmen taking place first at 6pm.
Ben Hopwood makes guest appearances for both visiting clubs, replacing Matt Williamson and James Cockle respectively, whilst Buxton operate rider-replacement for Ryan Kinsley and the Warriors likewise for Ben Wilson, with Joe Lawlor in for Scott Campos.
Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “These are two very big meetings for us and we will be taking them seriously as we want to avoid the wooden spoon and leave one of our opponents this weekend at the foot of the table.
“As a team we are up for this weekend and want to win both matches and end the season on a high.”
Isle of Wight co-promoter Martin Widman said: “It’s been a hectic, not to mention frustrating, week behind the scenes as we have tried to piece together a side.
“My thanks go to the riders who have stepped in as well as Jackie Vatcher and Kev Shepherd who have re-arranged commitments to make time for Warrior business.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PLYMOUTH round off their National League season by hosting Mildenhall at the St Boniface Arena tonight (Friday).
The clubs recently fought out a dramatic National Trophy Final, and an away win for the Fen Tigers would move them above Birmingham to fifth in the table.
Steve Boxall and Benji Compton have been declared fit to ride for the Devils, who bring in Ben Morley to guest for Adam Roynon, whilst the Fen Tigers have Matt Bates guesting for the injured Jon Armstrong.
Plymouth boss Laurence Rogers said: “Both Steve and Benji were desperate to be back for this final meeting. Steve sat out a grass meeting on Sunday to make sure he was fit and he reports the knee is feeling good.
“Benji has been resting his shoulder and having treatment and declared himself fit to lead his side.
“We have a great guest in Ben Morley and will be going all out to end the season on a high, with hopefully a good-sized crowd in attendance with a good weather forecast for a change!”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 27:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Workington 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15, Stoke v Buxton 6pm, Stoke v Isle of Wight (follows previous fixture)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 29:
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Mildenhall v Eastbourne 4pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight (follows previous fixture)
Results Thursday October 26, 2017;
CHAMPIONSHIP KOC FINAL, 2nd leg
Ipswich 45 (Cameron Heeps 13+1)
Peterborough 45 (Chris Harris 12)
