(SPEEDWAY 1 – SUNDAY REVIEW)
PETERBOROUGH are through to the League Cup Final after winning at Workington on Sunday – despite being without two of their top four riders.The Panthers took a six-point lead into the second leg tie and won on the night by the same margin as their remaining riders covered for the loss of injured duo Ryan Fisher and Ales Dryml.Guest David Bellego (11+1) top-scored in the visitors’ 48-42 win with reserve Nicki Barrett adding 10+3, whilst Rene Bach was the best Comets man on 14+1.Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “I couldn’t be more proud of the boys. We won at Berwick in the league recently when we had Ryan and Ales missing, so we knew we could do it again.“Not many people will have given us a chance of holding onto a six-point advantage there with only six men, but having our backs against the wall brings out the best in us. “We showed that tonight and I fully believe we can show it again in the final against Edinburgh. We pushed them harder than any other team has managed up at Armadale and we will do everything we can to lift the trophy.”Meanwhile Edinburgh duo Sam Masters and Justin Sedgmen were victorious in Luke Bowen’s Testimonial meeting at Rye House.Masters, who had won the Premier League Pairs earlier in the weekend, made it a double success as he and fellow Australian Sedgmen saw off Anders Mellgren and Leigh Lanham in the Final.
(SPEEDWAY 2 – MONDAY PREVIEW)
LEICESTER host the Sky Sports cameras for the first time as Eastbourne provide the opposition at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.Lions boss David Hemsley is confident his side can maintain the improvement they showed in a convincing win over Belle Vue last weekend, when their revised line-up was at full strength, and adult admission is reduced to £10 for the televised clash.The Eagles, who remain in the final play-off spot in the Elite League table despite being winless on the road, bring in Simon Gustafsson and operate rider-replacement as Joonas Kylmakorpi and Cameron Woodward are competing in the delayed second round of the World Longtrack Championship.Hemsley said: “I believe that we have now reached a position of where we want to be in terms of the side and as long as we stay clear of injuries then we can look forward to an improvement in results in the second half of the season. “Last week’s match against Belle Vue was high in entertainment and I am expecting Monday’s match to be just as absorbing. Eastbourne are a top side with a number of quality riders in their midst and I feel that we are as equally competitive now.”Meanwhile Wolverhampton skipper Tai Woffinden returns to domestic action in the first of two matches in three days between his team and Belle Vue, who meet first at Monmore tonight.Wolves were beaten at home last week by Coventry and they face an Aces side whose only two points away from home so far this season came at the Black Country venue over Easter.Woffinden said: “We can't afford any more slips and we have a bit of catching up to do if we are to get in the play-offs but I think we can do it.“(Manager) Pete Adams will be having a chat with us all before the meeting and it would be great for us to get a good win on the board.”Belle Vue skipper Scott Nicholls said: “We're a very strong team at home but so far we've had 14 away matches and only seven home matches, which definitely hasn't helped our cause.“Our away form has really gone against us this year, especially with Craig (Cook) missing a handful of meetings. It’s not his fault, but there's not many guests of equal ability who can cover for him.”In the Premier League, Glasgow host third-placed Scunthorpe, who can move up the table with a win at Ashfield.The Tigers are looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat to rivals Edinburgh, whilst the Scorpions bring in Max Fricke to guest for Nicolai Klindt who is racing in the TV fixture at Leicester.Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “There's no doubt a dent happened on Sunday, with us losing our unbeaten home record. The only consolation I can take out of it is that we've not particularly lost any ground on anybody.”Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Of course, it’s a blow not to have Nicolai, but we have an excellent guest replacement in Max, who is both on form and good around Glasgow; it’s the third successive meeting at Glasgow he’s competed in.“Our home form has really come together in recent weeks, and we’re now also looking to pick up a few more points away from home.”In the National League, Kent can move into second place in the table – if they can get the better of leaders Cradley at Central Park.With three members of their regular team involved in higher-league action, the Heathens have drafted in Dan Greenwood and Ben Hopwood as guests, and will also operate rider-replacement.Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “I believe we still have a strong side with Paul Starke and Steve Worrall at the top end and I think we can do a job there. If we all ride to our true ability then I see no reason why we cannot go there and get a point at least.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY JULY 14:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Eastbourne 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Scunthorpe 7.15NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Cradley 6.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 16:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 8pm, Birmingham v Lakeside OFF, King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 17:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 7.30, Lakeside v Eastbourne 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Plymouth v Glasgow 7.15, Scunthorpe v Rye House 7.30, Somerset v Newcastle 7.30
