(SPEEDWAY 1)POOLE moved to within a point of guaranteeing top place in the Elite League ahead of the play-offs by overcoming nearest challengers Wolverhampton at Wimborne Road.The Pirates could seal their position in the return fixture at Monmore Green on Monday having secured a 53-39 result on home soil.Wolves fought hard with Nicolai Klindt winning his first three rides before coming to grief in Heat 13, whilst Poole skipper Davey Watt conceded a 5-1 in his first outing but then dropped just one more point.Watt quipped: "This is the second time in two weeks when we have let the opposition get near to 40 points, it's about time we started upping our game a bit!"I started badly tonight and had to make some changes and I wasn't the only one, but we battled away and saw it come good in the end."
(SPEEDWAY 2)SOMERSET enjoyed their best result of the season with a shock 48-45 away win at King's Lynn.The Rebels dominated at the Norfolk Arena and moved into a ten point lead after Heat 9, forcing the Stars to use the double-points facility - but their late comeback was not enough.Aussie youngster Sam Masters impressed with 12 points with veteran Shane Parker adding ten for a result which boosts the Rebels' chances of Young Shield qualification - whilst also heavily denting the Stars' aspirations of reaching the top four play-offs.
Somerset boss Steve Bishop said: "This was a tremendous result for the team, and one that showed just what we are capable of now we have a settled side."We were strong right through from 1-7 tonight and it was a measure of our dominance that we were disappointed not to have come away with a maximumfour-point win under our belts." (SPEEDWAY 3)BIRMINGHAM remain on course for the Premier League top-four play-offs after a 53-41 win over Rye House at Perry Barr.The Brummies celebrated their recent PL Fours triumph in front of their home supporters before the meeting and then put together another solid team effort to keep their good run going.Australian star Richard Sweetman stole the show with a stunning effort in Heat 11, going from third to first on the run to the finish line to prevent the Rockets' duo of Linus Sundstrom and Stefan Ekberg from taking a maximum8-1 race advantage.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: "That was a big night for us and we're delighted to win the meeting. The fans enjoyed it and we saw some superb action, hopefully we can keep that going for the rest of the season."
(SPEEDWAY 4)NEWPORT are gearing up for an historic meeting on Friday night when the club's new floodlights will come on during the Premier League clash with Glasgow.The sport was run under lights between 1964 and 1977 at their former Somerton Park venue, but since the Hayley Stadium opened in 1997 meetings have generally been staged on Sunday afternoons, with the only night matches being in the height of summer.The Wasps are planning a pre-match Happy Hour in the bar, and a firework display and karaoke evening after the racing, with child admission (5-15) for one pound.Club owner Steve Mallett said: "It is a moment we have all looked forward to and I would like to thank Gareth 'Gazza' Ward and his volunteers for turning the project around in only six weeks. "We now have more options over our raceday, plus we can attract more events to the stadium which is good news for the continuity of the sport in the city." (FIXTURES) THURSDAY AUGUST 19:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Coventry OFF ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Eastbourne v Lakeside OFF PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30 NORTHERN RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 7.45 FRIDAY AUGUST 20:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Peterborough 8pm, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Newport v Glasgow 7.45, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Edinburgh v King's Lynn 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Weymouth 7.30 10th ANNIVERSARY MEETING: Somerset 7.15 SATURDAY AUGUST 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Stoke v Newport 7.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7pm NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15 SUNDAY AUGUST 22:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Berwick 4pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm, Bournemouth v King's Lynn 2.30, Bournemouth v Rye House (follows previous fixture) NATIONAL TROPHY: Newport v Isle of Wight 2.30
