(SPEEDWAY 1)
DARCY Ward has set a target of August 8 for his return after suffering a groin injury when he crashed out at Coventry on Monday.Ward is set to miss the Pirates’ next three fixtures, including home matches against Lakeside and Wolverhampton, and he is looking to return in the return encounter at Wolves – and the Elite League leaders also have Jason Doyle and Kyle Newman ruled out at present.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “Darcy Ward is simply irreplaceable at the present time, while Doyley and Newman will be missed in their current form.“We have been imperious at Wimborne Road this season but this has suddenly put our home record under severe pressure.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SHEFFIELD owner Neil Machin says his riders can learn from the experienced Shane Parker after mechanical issues contributed to their Knockout Cup exit.The Tigers are hoping to have Josh Auty back from injury against Rye House on Thursday, but Machin is calling for better preparation after losing out to Workington last weekend.He said: “Shane Parker was brilliant for us at Workington but I believe certain members of the team owe an apology to our supporters.“I really do hope they learn from it and show a better attitude in terms of preparation. I’m not going to question their effort, that’s for other people, but you can win or lose meetings in the workshop.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
STOKE continued their climb up the National League table with a 48-42 win at the Isle of Wight – the Potters’ third straight victory.The result moves the Staffordshire side up to fifth in the table, just a point off second spot and five behind leaders Hackney with five matches in hand.Manager Malcolm Vasey said: “This was a very hard earned three points for us tonight, all the lads rode their hearts out and I could not have asked any more from them. “Gareth Isherwood was the unsung hero, continuing on bravely with a knee injury and coming up with some vital points, and Simon (Lambert) also broke the track record in Heat 1.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
AUSTRALIAN star Rory Schlein starts Friday’s Scottish Open at former home track Edinburgh as favourite for his third win in the event.The meeting will be the the 400th to be staged at senior level since the Monarchs moved to Armadale in 1997, and they have six of their own riders in the field as they look for a first home winner since Schlein in 2004.Fraser McDowall, manager of event sponsors Keyline, said: “I’d say there are about ten potential winners. Rory has an obvious chance but the likes of young (Andrew) Tully can be as quick as anyone.“Any of the home lads could do it, though maybe for Kyle (Howarth) it will just be a chance to gain experience. Oliver Allen and James Wright might win it as well.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
CHRIS Holder inspired a dramatic Poole comeback as the injury-hit Elite League leaders kept their unbeaten home record with the narrowest of wins over Lakeside.The Hammers led by seven points with six heats to go but Holder produced a stunning ride to pass both Lee Richardson and Robert Mear in Heat 13 – and then he combined with fellow Aussie Davey Watt for a 5-1 in the last race to seal a 44-43 victory.Holder said: “It couldn't have been impossible because I am stood here talking about it, but it was a bit tight. I'm just stoked that I pulled it off and then me and Watty were able to ride the last race as though it was a final.”Wednesday’s other Elite League action saw King’s Lynn overcome Eastbourne 50-42 in a battle of two clubs in the top four, Niels-Kristian Iversen top-scoring for the Stars with 13 points.
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LAKESIDE’S Polish star Piotr Swiderski has flown home for treatment on an ankle injury after crashing out of the Hammers’ narrow defeat at Poole on Wednesday.Swiderski is rated as highly doubtful for Friday’s home clash with Peterborough, and former Lakeside man Joonas Kylmakorpi has been lined up to guest for his former club.Hammers boss Jon Cook said: “We need to take the many positives from Wednesday, not least the point we gained, into Fridays match. Whilst the Pirates had their own injury problems for us to lead the whole match up until the last race with just five riders and only one heat leader after losing Piotr in Heat 4 is a sign of how hard the boys are fighting to stay in the title race. “All five worked tirelessly on track and in the pits to get a result and although it should have been three League points you have to give full credit to Poole’s top three riders who were equally as determined to grind out a result themselves.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
CHRISTIAN Hefenbrock will return to the Somerset team on Friday after nearly two months out of the side due to injury.The German star suffered shoulder and ankle injuries in a crash in his homeland which have caused him to miss the club’s last eight matches, but he is now fit to make his comeback against Redcar.Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock said: “It was great to receive the phone call from Christian to say that he was fit and raring to go, and it goes without saying that it will be great to have him back in the team. “I would, however, like to express my thanks to Joe Haines who stepped in as injury replacement for Christian during his absence.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY JULY 28:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30, Swindon v King’s Lynn 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Rye House 7.45
FRIDAY JULY 29:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 8pm, Lakeside v Peterborough 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Newport v Leicester 7.30, Plymouth v Ipswich 7.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v Redcar 7.30 SCOTTISH OPEN: Edinburgh 7.30
SATURDAY JULY 30:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Swindon 4pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Leicester v Newport 8pm, Rye House v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Stoke 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 31:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm, Newcastle v Workington 6.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Newport v Isle of Wight 2.30 BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2: Buxton 2pm
