SPEEDWAY News and Fixtures

(SPEEDWAY 1)SOMERSET have secured their place in the League Cup semi-finals with an away win at Rye House on Bank Holiday Monday.The Rebels were 38-34 ahead when a halt was called due to the weather conditions, and they are now guaranteed a top-two finish in the Southern section.Manager Steve Bishop said: “The boys rode extremely well given the conditions, and credit must be given to all 14 riders for riding as well as they did, but I think we applied ourselves to the situation better than the home riders and more than deserved our victory.“Obviously it goes without saying that it is great that we are now assured of our place in the League Cup semi-finals, but we will not be taking our foot of the gas when we face Plymouth in our final group match at the Oaktree Arena on Friday as we want to finish the group stage in top spot.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD co-boss David Hoggart has called for more from his team away from home – as the Tigers again missed out on a point on the road.The Owlerton side were beaten 54-40 at Ipswich on Monday in their Premier League opener, and Hoggart feels they were frustratingly close to taking some reward.He said: “Four more points today and we get a league point, and that is very difficult to do at Ipswich. Everyone contributed but just a little bit more from everyone and we will be in a much better position.“I can’t criticise anyone because no-one deserves it, the boys are working as a team and they have a lot of spirit. If we all just up it a bit we’ll be there in most meetings and the spirit will turn into points.”(SPEEDWAY 3)

SCUNTHORPE opened their home Premier League campaign with a solid 55-37 win over Edinburgh.The Scorpions were without Tero Aarnio after the Finn picked up a shoulder injury at Newcastle, but club asset Richie Worrall proved to be a perfect guest with a score of 13, and Josh Auty topped the charts with 15+1.Manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “It was a no-nonsense performance this afternoon. We just kept edging away from the Monarchs. Their only heat advantages were once we had won the meeting.“Josh Auty was on top form and worth the admission fee alone. An on-song Josh is a sight to behold around here.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

STOKE skipper Tony Atkin hailed a big effort from a depleted team to hold Scunthorpe to a five-point margin in the first leg of their National League KO Cup tie.Already without Jaimie Pickard, the Potters lost No.1 Ashley Birks who was taken ill in the preceding Premier League fixture, and had to borrow Tommy Fenwick from the home club in order to become a six-man line-up.Atkin said: “Basically we were a three-man team and those kids that have come in were inspired today, and I take my hat off to them because if anything after my first two rides I was disappointed with myself.“You'd have bet your mortgage that Ross Walter would not have won Heat 13 against the likes of Jerran Hart and Steve Worrall, and it was really great to see. He is a 100 per cent trier and for any rider to win Heat 13 it is a major feat and he'll be telling his grandchildren about that, and Ben Reade is doing what we want him to do, he is riding really well.”

(FIXTURES)

TUESDAY MAY 8:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Dudley v Buxton 7.30CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v Stoke 7.30

WEDNESDAY MAY 9:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 10:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Peterborough 7.30, Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Ipswich 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 11:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Peterborough 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v Plymouth 7.30


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