(SPEEDWAY 1)
THE three-way fight for the final two Elite League play-off places will go into the last week of regular fixturesafter Birmingham lost at Coventry and Lakeside defeated rivals Peterborough.The Brummies looked on course to book a top four finish when they led 39-33 at Brandon with three heats to go, but the Bees finished strongly and a last-race 5-1 from Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris secured a 47-43 win, leaving Birmingham with one point from the meeting.Lakeside, meanwhile, collected all three from a 52-40 victory over the Panthers, and that puts them level on points with the Brummies although they have completed their fixtures.Birmingham have two matches in hand and a race points advantage of 17, with tough home fixtures against Poole and Swindon to comewhilst Peterborough are two match points further back ahead of away trips to Belle Vue and Coventry next week.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE will be without recent signing Piotr Pawlicki for their vital trip to Birmingham on Mondaywith the young Pole ruled out due to a shoulder injury.The Pirates need to avoid defeat at Perry Barr to be certain of topping the Elite League table and gaining the pick of play-off semi-final opponents, with the Brummies still looking to book a top four finish.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: We were stunned when we received confirmation from Piotr that the doctors have advised him not to race for at least a week.Of course, it's a major blow for him and for us. He was hoping to excel in the Polish round of the World U21 Finals on Saturday and of course we believed he could be a key man for us at Birmingham. We will be covering for him on Monday with rider replacement and that makes our task so much harder.(SPEEDWAY 3)
SOMERSET top the Premier League table at the completion of their regular fixtures after a 59-31 home win over injury-hit Workington.Jason Doyle scored a four-ride paid maximum for the Rebels, with Claus Vissing and Alex Davies only missing out in the last racewhilst the Comets lost Tero Aarnio in a second-ride crash.Rebels boss Steve Bishop said: Whilst Workington didnt have the best of luck what with mechanical gremlins putting paid to both their tactical rides plus also losing a rider to injury in the early stages of the match, to their credit our boys didnt let things affect their focus on the match and I thought we were well deserving of our victory.I know that others could still finish ahead of us by the time the cut off for the play-offs comes around with us now having completed our matches, so if we not in the top two come next Saturday then so be it, we will still be in the top six contesting the Championship.(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPES 55-38 win over Redcar means the Scorpions are likely to be able to clinch a top two finish in their final home match of the regular campaign next week.Josh Auty, with paid-13, top-scored for the Scorpions who put in a solid all-round display, and a win over Glasgow next Friday will be enough to secure a choice of play-off opponents unless Leicester win their three remaining away matches. Manager Richard Hollingsworth said: Redcar rode better than the final scoreline suggests. We knew we would receive a tough test because all their top five can ride our track. Matej Kus was outstanding for them, with only Josh getting the better of him.We need another performance like that against Glasgow next Friday, and then well keep our fingers crossed on results elsewhere, because I would love for us to top the regular Premier League table. The Championship may be decided in the play-offs, but it would still mean a great deal to this club if we could finish top of the regular table.
(SPEEDWAY 5)EDINBURGH are on the verge of confirming a place in the Premier League play-offs having taken six points from their Armadale double-header on Friday.The Monarchs clocked up similar scores in both meetings, first defeating Scottish rivals Glasgow 57-35, and then getting the better of Rye House 57-36. Guest Kevin Wolbert dropped just one point across the two meetings.Edinburgh could need two points from their last three matches to be sure of a top six finishbut the issue could be resolved much sooner than that.Monarchs boss John Campbell said: We did a great job over our two matches and Ipswich need to win at Berwick (on Saturday), otherwise we are in the play-offs whatever else happens.
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Ipswich 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Rye House 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Buxton 4.30
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 17:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Birmingham v Poole 7.30, Kings Lynn v Coventry 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18:INTERNATIONAL TEST MATCH: Team GB v Young Australia, Leicester 7.30
