(SPEEDWAY 1)
EDINBURGH were held to a two-point first leg lead in a KO Cup thriller with Glasgow at Armadale.
Both sides led by six points at one stage but a late Tigers fightback limited the Monarchs to a 46-44 win on the night.
Richie Worrall won Heats 13 and 15 for the visitors, the latter after Chris Harris had been disqualified, with a Heat 14 5-1 from Paul Starke and James Sarjeant bringing the gap down to two.
The Monarchs had earlier hit back from their own deficit with a strong mid-match run including a Heat 7 5-1 from skipper Erik Riss and newcomer Coty Garcia.
Ricky Wells top-scored for the hosts with 12+1 whilst Riss added 11+1 and brother Mark scored 10; whilst Worrall racked up 13 for the Tigers.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “We had done so well to achieve a 12-point turnaround between Heat 5 and Heat 12, that I am very disappointed we could not press home our advantage over the last three heats.
“I felt we should have got a 10-point advantage. Richie Worrall did very well but we should have pegged him back in Heats 13 and 15, and we seem to have a problem in Heat 14 every week."
Worrall said: “We came here and won last time, which was nice - it would've been nice to do the same again.
“We had a couple of guys having an off night and when we needed a result there, Bomber - I'm not sure what happened, but he said he got unfairly excluded.
“I knew I had to go out and win that last race. It's lonely out there on your own when you're up against those two guys and you need a result - there's a bit of pressure.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue Colts due Jack Smith and Kyle Bickley held their nerve to win a last-heat decider against Eastbourne.
The scores were level going into Heat 15 after the Eagles had overcome a broken collarbone for Charley Powell to hit back from six points down.
The visitors levelled with a 5-1 in Heat 14 from Jason Edwards and Charlie Brooks after leader Joe Lawlor suffered mechanical trouble.
But Smith got the better of Eagles’ No.1 Mark Baseby in the decider with Bickley overcoming Georgie Wood for third place to give the hosts a 46-44 win.
Smith top-scored for the Colts with 13 whilst Bickley totalled 12, and Baseby collected 11 for the Eagles.
Smith said: “We knew it was going to be a tough night against Eastbourne, but we can feel a real sense of accomplishment having beaten them because they are such a strong team.
“The track didn’t play in our favour as it usually does but it was the same for everyone and their riders seemed to like conditions very much. It definitely made our work a lot harder.
“With Ben [Woodhull] moving into the main team it did weaken us at reserve but every point scored from all the boys was vital in securing the win, and in that respect it was a job well done.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
CRADLEY have snapped up the experienced Chris Widman to bolster their National Trophy side.
Widman comes into the Heathens’ line-up in place of Conor Dwyer after their shock home defeat to Coventry, and he will make his debut at Buxton on Sunday.
He said: “It’s such a prestigious race jacket to have the honour to be wearing.
“I haven’t had the greatest of starts to the season, but with my mechanical problems now behind me I’m feeling ready to kick-on.
“The few meetings I have with the Heathens will give me those extra laps I need to boost my confidence, and I hope I can do a good job.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY MAY 27:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Cradley 3pm, Coventry v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Plymouth 3pm
MONDAY MAY 28:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Leicester 12pm, Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30, Rye House v King’s Lynn 7.30, Swindon v Somerset 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Isle of Wight 3.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 30:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Somerset 7.30, Poole v Leicester 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30
Results Friday May 25, 2018;
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP, 1st leg
Edinburgh 46 (Ricky Wells 12+1)
Glasgow 44 (Richie Worrall 13)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Belle Vue 46 (Jack Smith 13)
Eastbourne 44 (Mark Baseby 11)
National League points: Belle Vue 3 Eastbourne 1
