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SWINDON manager Alun Rossiter says the club go into the Elite League play-offs in their strongest shape in years.The Robins race their re-arranged semi-final first leg at Birmingham on Mondaya venue where they have already enjoyed success this season.Rossiter said: We have proved we know how to put a good team together, and actually I have a better feeling about this team than the one we had in 2009 when we lost in the final. But we will show Birmingham the ultimate respect, even though we have won there twice already this season they will be keen to put the record straight when it matters most.The other semi-final is set to reach a conclusion with Poole taking a 47-43 lead into the home leg of their tie with Lakeside. The Pirates are to switch doubling-up riders with Ludvig Lindgren and Kyle Howarth called-up, whilst the Hammers use rider-replacement for the unwell Davey Watt and replace Jonas Davidsson from within their own squad by including Stuart Robson.
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SCUNTHORPE made a flying start to their Premier League play-off challenge with a 59-34 win over Edinburgh at the Eddie Wright Raceway.Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey underlined the fact that every point could be vital in the three-team group, which also includes Workington, as his side kept the pressure on against a Monarchs side who saw the back-from-injury Craig Cook crash out in his second ride.Godfrey said: We drummed it into the lads before the meeting that every point counted tonight, because if theres a tie in the group, its decided by race points. They responded fantastically to that and raced for every single point.Were without two of our top riders in David (Howe) and Thomas (Jorgensen), but the other five riders, plus our guests, are really pulling out the stops. I cant ask for any more from them. We go to Edinburgh on Friday full of confidence.
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NEWCASTLE boss George English admits that results involving Leicester will now play a key part in his own club reaching the Final of the Premier League play-offs.The Diamonds topped the league table but were held to a 48-44 home win over Somerset on Sunday, giving the Rebels a potentially crucial away point in the three-team mini-league.Claes Nedermark reeled off four wins for the home side and finished with 16+1, but Jason Doyle and Jesper B Monberg kept the visitors in contention throughout after cutting back an early ten-point deficit.English said: Three points were what we were after but we only managed two and we now must look to Leicester to make sure they take as many points from Somerset and we in turn take all points available from the Lions. The League Championship is pretty much in the lap of the Gods.
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SOMERSET are through to the League Cup Final after a nail-biting aggregate win over Newcastlewhich went down to a last-heat decider at Brough Park.Just two points separated the sides going into the last race, but Stuart Robson and then Ludvig Lindgren came to grief for the Diamonds enabling the Rebels to take a 5-0, with promoter Debbie Hancock keen to clarify the nature of the clubs celebrations.She said: When Doyley (Jason Doyle) and Jesper (B Monberg) hit the front into the first turn in the re-run of Heat 15, the cheer that went up from within the Rebels pits was so loud that I think it could probably be heard back at the Oaktree Arena as we knew then that we had made it through to the final.Unfortunately, however, at the same time as we were starting to celebrate, Ludvig Lindgren took a tumble, and I wish to apologise to everyone associated with Newcastle Speedway, the promotion, riders and fans if it looked as if we were cheering the fact Ludvig had fallen.I can assure everyone that nothing could be further from the truth as I nor any of my riders would ever find cause to celebrate another rider falling, but I can understand how our celebrations must have appeared to everyone looking in from the terraces and the Newcastle side of the pits.We have had four fantastic meetings against Newcastle in our respective double headers on Friday at Somerset and again here at Newcastle, and it showed the measure of both sides that there was hardly anything between either of us come the end of what has been 60 heats of pulsating speedway.(SPEEDWAY 5)
MILDENHALL took the advantage in the first leg of their National League play-off semi-final by running up a 58-36 home win over the Isle of Wight.Jason Garrity proved a perfect guest for the Fen Tigers with a five-ride paid maximum, and he was also unbeaten in the National Trophy win which followedwhilst Adam Ellis continued his remarkable impact for the Islanders with double-figures in both meetings.Mildenhall co-promoter Chris Louis said: Im very pleased with both results. Jason proved to be an excellent guest, not only for his points scoring but also for the way he looked out for his team-mate in all his races. Joe Jacobs also deserves a mention; he had a very disappointing night at Rye House yesterday but he put that behind him and rode exceptionally well this afternoon.(FIXTURES)
MONDAY OCTOBER 1:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Lakeside 7.30, 1st leg: Birmingham v Swindon 7.30SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 2:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30, 1st leg: Stoke v Dudley 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 8pm
THURSDAY OCTOBER 4:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Swindon v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30PREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Redcar v Glasgow 7.30, Sheffield v Rye House 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 5:PREMIER LEAGUE
