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NEWCASTLE have been rocked by an injury to heat-leader signing Andrew Tully after a crash during the clubs press and practice session.Tully has suffered a fracture of his L1 vertebra, just below the rib-cage, with rider and club now awaiting further medical reports.Diamonds boss George English said: We cannot at this stage comment on his anticipated time on the sidelines, and can only hope it wont be a long lay-off - but we await his specialists report before well make comment.Its especially sickening for the lad who was keen to make this season a real belter of a campaign, and we can now only wish him well and hope he can make a swift return to the saddle.(SPEEDWAY 2)
SHEFFIELD have named Argentinian ace Facundo Albin in the main body of their team for Thursday's Owlerton opener with Elite League Birmingham.Albin impressed club bosses at the their press and practice session last Thursday and will line up in the tricky No.2 slot where he will partner Great Britain World Cup star Simon Stead in three outings. Fellow newcomer Damien Koppe will be at reserve.Sheffield co-boss David Hoggart said: I really get a good feeling about Facundo, he looked sharp on Thursday and his enthusiasm is second to none.He looked well on the pace when he was out on-track with Steady, and I know it was only practice and its completely different when youre in a competitive race, but he looked fast and its very encouraging from first impressions of seeing him here.
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WEDNESDAY MARCH 27:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry OFF (Now Wed Apr 3)
THURSDAY MARCH 28ELITE SHIELD 1st leg: Swindon v Poole 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS CHALLENGE: Sheffield v Birmingham 7.45
FRIDAY MARCH 29:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 1pm, Coventry v Birmingham 8pm, Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.45, Kings Lynn v Peterborough 7pm, Lakeside v Eastbourne 1pm, Peterborough v Kings Lynn 2pmLEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Rye House 2.30, Scunthorpe v Leicester 3pmELITE SHIELD 2nd leg: Poole v Swindon 12pmCOCK O THE NORTH 1st leg: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30CHALLENGE 1st leg: Somerset v Plymouth 7.30, Scunthorpe v Long Eaton Select (follows LC meeting)
SATURDAY MARCH 30:LEAGUE CUP: Leicester v Sheffield 7.30COCK O THE NORTH 2nd leg: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pmCHALLENGE 2nd leg: Plymouth v Somerset 7.15IAN THOMAS SHIELD 1st leg: Workington v Newcastle 7pm
