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NEWPORT general manager Laurence Rogers says confidence is high ahead of this weekend’s Premier League Knockout Cup Final.The Wasps, who have enjoyed a surge in form during the second half of the season, take on league champions-elect Glasgow over two legs, with the opener at Queensway Meadows on Saturday.Rogers said: “We deserved to go through and getting to the final is a great reward for our promoters, the Mallett family. It's been a difficult time for everyone at the club, but now we can look forward to the challenge of winning a trophy.“Glasgow are a very good side. But so are we, and we will start the home leg in confident mood. We certainly have a very good mix of vast experience and youthful enthusiasm and we won't be fazed by the occasion.”
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BERWICK’S Bordernapolis handicap event on Saturday will feature Milen Manev – the first Bulgarian rider to appear at the venue.The 32-year-old former winner of the Romanian Championship takes his place in a line-up which also includes Elite League regulars Ryan Fisher, Olly Allen and Claus Vissing.Bandits commercial manager Phil Newton said: “I think most people will have made Ryan the favourite for the money – but I went to the races at Newmarket last week when the Bandits were down at Ipswich, and quickly learned that the favourite doesn’t always win!“There’s a truly well-matched line-up and with our unique handicap system, there’s no way to predict the winner.”
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LAKESIDE have named an unchanged line-up for the first leg of the Knockout Cup semi-final as they bid to gain consolation for missing out in the Elite League play-offs.Stuart Robson again gets the nod for the Hammers’ home clash with Belle Vue on Friday, whilst the Aces bring in Jordan Frampton as his doubling-up colleague Craig Cook is racing for his Premier League club Edinburgh.Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook said: “We gave the (Eastbourne) Eagles a fight over the two legs of the play-off semi-final that belied the difference in the final League standings of both teams and we now move on to try to keep the season alive against Belle Vue. “We have three riders determined to make amends for below par performances on Monday and three others equally determined to keep up their good form and, together, we intend to battle for each and every point to reach the Cup Final.”
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BELLE Vue will take a five point lead into the second leg of the National League play-off semi-final after a dramatic comeback against Scunthorpe on Wednesday.The Colts outscored the Saints 21-6 in the last four races, with the final heat abandoned due to the curfew after a lengthy delay for medical reasons after Scunthorpe’s Gary Irving suffered a broken collarbone. The second leg is at Sheffield next Thursday.Belle Vue boss Steve Williams said: “I was proud of the way the lads battled back in the later races and now we must go to Sheffield and continue that fightback.”Saints manager Stuart Parnaby said: “Of course we let things slip a bit at the end but it is still a good result. We got hammered here in the league so I was always fearful of something like that happening again.”
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NEWLY-CROWNED Premier League Riders’ Champion Sam Masters will be going for a double individual success at the revival of the Somerset Open on Friday.The event is being staged for the first time since 2003 and Masters will be amongst the favourites along with Eastbourne stars Bjarne Pedersen and Lewis Bridger.Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock said: “Sam went into Sunday’s meeting at Sheffield as one of the lowest-averaged riders in the field, but that counted for nothing as he showed maturity beyond his years in winning the title.“We are hoping to have a very special guest to take Sam on his lap of honour around the track prior to the meeting, and I would like to think the Oak Tree Arena will be packed with Somerset fans to give Sam the reception he deserves.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Workington 7.45 TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Lakeside v Belle Vue 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30, Plymouth v Sheffield 7.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30 SOMERSET OPEN: Somerset 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 1:PREMIER LEAGUE: Leicester v Edinburgh 7.30, Workington v Rye House 7pm PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Newport v Glasgow 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 7.30BORDERNAPOLIS: Berwick 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 2:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 2pm, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow v Newport 4pm NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Mildenhall v Stoke 4.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Newport 3pm
