(SPEEDWAY 1 – SATURDAY REVIEW)
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer admitted to mixed emotions after being held to two Elite League points in a 49-44 win over Coventry at Arlington.The Bees were eleven points down with six heats to go but produced a series of 4-2s to cut the gap and take a valuable league point back to Brandon.Skipper Cameron Woodward led the scoring for the Eagles with 10+2 whilst Hans Andersen won his last three races for the visitors to finish on 13.Geer said: “We put ourselves in a position to get the three points but let the situation slip. The Coventry boys got the hang of the track and one or two of our lads were not at their best.“We have always known that we need to get some away wins and this just emphasises the point. Belle Vue on Monday would be a good place to start.”Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “I was absolutely delighted with the team, and I’m proud of them because Eastbourne is not an easy place to go at all, especially not being at full strength. “That point could prove very valuable, so it’s a great result for us and full credit to all of the boys.”Lakeside also picked up a useful away point in a 42-48 away defeat at Leicester, leaving the third-placed Hammers four points ahead of Swindon who are just outside the play-off places.It was the Lions’ fourth successive home win, with No.1 Jason Doyle top-scoring on 13+1 and reserve Max Clegg picking up an encouraging eight, whilst Lewis Bridger led the way for the Hammers on 13.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “There are few runaway matches at Leicester and this was another instance of a close contest between two teams short of a rider on each side after both Krzysztof Buczkowski and Davey Watt had to pull out following injuries, and on reflection it was a good result for us against one of the strong contenders for a top four finish. “I was happy with the team's overall performance and in particular Max’s contribution. It was not just the points he scored but the way he rode that heartened me. We know that he has the talent and he showed me tonight that he can mix it, and I hope that this is the turning point for him to repeat more of the same between now and the end of the season.”In the Premier League, Ipswich have moved into third place with a 49-41 win at Rye House, despite operating rider-replacement for Gino Manzares and No.1 Richie Worrall suffering a disastrous meeting and failing to score.Rohan Tungate (14+1) and Morten Risager (14) were big scorers for the visitors, whilst Edward Kennett and Jason Garrity both scored 11 for the hosts.Rockets boss John Sampford said: “We were simply beaten by the better team on the night. Positives? Edward and Jason both rode well, and young Ollie (Greenwood) too. He continues to learn and to pick up points, some where you would not expect him too. But those were really the only pluses tonight.” Berwick overcame the absence of several key riders to defeat second-placed Somerset 49-43 at Shielfield Park, and are now fourth in the table with matches in hand on the teams around them.Steen Jensen shot back to top form for the Bandits with a 17-point haul from six rides, whilst Oliver Allen scored 15 for the Rebels who collected an away point from the meeting thanks to a 4-2 in the last race when Allen got the better of Jensen with Nick Morris third.Berwick boss John Anderson said: “Somerset gave us a serious challenge and perhaps one of the toughest this season, but even with guests and the like the desire to win was still at maximum power especially with Steen Jensen and his superb performance leading the way getting us two more league points – great stuff.”Somerset manager Garry May said: “The boys really dug deep for this one, and although things may have looked a bit dicey at one stage, they never gave up and were rewarded with this away point. Olly and Nick were both magnificent throughout, but especially in that Heat 15.”Workington got their battle to complete eighteen league fixtures in thirty days underway with a 50-45 home victory over Newcastle in a hard-fought encounter as the Diamonds came back from a twelve-point deficit to snatch a league point.Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “It was disappointing to drop a home point but fair play to the Diamonds for making good use of their tactical rides. We would have taken all the points had Ricky Wells not shed a chain on the last corner in his third ride - but that’s speedway.“Nevertheless, we were just pleased to get the match completed, in what was only our second home meeting since late June, especially after a delay of almost an hour waiting for a county ambulance to take Newcastle guest Danny Phillips to hospital following his Heat 2 crash and we then needed a second ambulance when a member of the public was taken ill, but hopefully both parties are okay.”Meanwhile former Stoke rider Luke Chessell piled up 16-points on his return to Loomer Road with Devon, but was unable to prevent his side slipping to a 32-60 National League defeat with the visitors also losing No.1 Tim Webster to injury.
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SUNDAY PREVIEW)
GLASGOW star Rusty Harrison insists his side can cope with the threat of Premier League title contender Somerset when the sides meet at Ashfield.The Rebels are completing a three-day Northern tour which saw them collect a point at Berwick on Saturday.Harrison hopes home track knowledge will play a part for the Tigers, who will be without French reserve Dimitri Berge due to the World Longtrack Championship.Harrison said: “I don't think you can really disregard anyone coming to Glasgow - it's a fantastic racing track and I'm sure most would like to come and ride here. But we'll just hope we're that little bit better on the day and can nick the win and take all three points.“I wouldn't look so much at their scores at home. As much as we've had some bad performances, they've had some bad performances as well. They got quite heavily beaten at Ipswich this year, whereas we drew there.”Somerset boss Garry May said: “Hopefully we can be heading back to the West Country with some more points to our name to keep the pressure on at the top of the Premier League table.”The Rebels trail Edinburgh by two points at the top of the table, although they have raced two more matches – and the Monarchs are also in action today as they visit Newcastle, who currently hold sixth place but are aware of the matches in hand of several of their rivals.In the National League, Mildenhall host a double header with leaders Cradley and Scunthorpe both in action at West Row.The Fen Tigers operate rider-replacement for the injured Josh Bates, whilst the Heathens are without Paul Starke and Steve Worrall due to Premier League commitments with Oliver Greenwood stepping in, whilst Luke Harris replaces reserve Danny Phillips, who suffered a crash at Workington on Saturday.Mildenhall chairman Kevin Jolly said: “We really need to be on our game from the start on Sunday, if we are to overcome a powerful Cradley side. I feel there are two areas of the team that will play very significant roles for us. “At reserve Jack (Kingston) and Connor (Mountain) will have a very big say in how this meeting pans out, both have impressed of late and we need more from them this weekend. With Josh missing only Brendan (Johnson), Connor (Coles) and the reserves can take a ride due to his currently low average which he is much better than. It is important for Brendan to be on his game Sunday.”Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “It's going to be a really tough meeting up at Mildenhall, especially without both of our top two. Paul and Steve are almost impossible to replace, but we've got Ollie guesting and he should do a good job for us.“It's obviously going to be difficult, particularly without a full team, but we are going there hoping to come away with a win or at least a point.”For the second half of the double header, Scunthorpe bring in Cameron Hoskins at reserve as Jack Hall has picked up a knock in a BMX accident – whilst Scottish rider Ryan MacDonald races at West Row before heading home to report for jury service on Monday morning!Meanwhile Buxton host Kent at the Hi-Edge Raceway with the Kings able to move into second position in the table with a positive result in the first of two matches in two days between the sides.Buxton star Adam Extance said: “I was raring to go last weekend at Coventry (for the rained-off NL Fours) especially on the back of that great win against Devon. I really feel we should fear no-one on our home track for the rest of the season.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY AUGUST 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Somerset 3pm, Newcastle v Edinburgh 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Kent OFF, Mildenhall v Cradley 3.30, Mildenhall v Scunthorpe (follows previous fixture)
MONDAY AUGUST 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.15, Belle Vue v Eastbourne (follows previous fixture), Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Leicester 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Buxton 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 19:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Plymouth 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30, King’s Lynn v Scunthorpe (follows previous fixture)
