(SPEEDWAY 1)
POOLE reserve Kyle Howarth emerged as the unlikely hero as the Pirates overcame the mid-meeting loss of Darcy Ward to overcome Kings Lynn in a Wimborne Road thriller.Ward crashed out in Heat 10, suffering left hand and wrist injuries due to a snapped chain, but Howarth collected a career-best paid-13 including a vital Heat 14 5-1 with Maciej Janowski, and captain Chris Holder secured a 48-45 win in the final race.Poole boss Neil Middleditch said: I told Kyle it was hero time as he prepared for Heat 14 and, what can you say, absolutely brilliant. We had been having terrible luck with the loss of Darcyirreplaceable mid-way through a meetingand then Magic (Janowski) suffering a blown motor at the start of Heat 13.It really looked like it was going to be one of those nights. I just asked the team to go out and ride like heroes and, to a man, they did. It was speedway drama at its best.
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MARTIN Smolinski continued his remarkable start to the season with a paid maximum at Perry Barr as Birmingham completed the double over local rivals Coventry.Smolinski was unbeaten from five rides, including a Heat 15 victory, to add to his paid-20 score from Brandon on Friday, as the Bees were reduced to three race winners in a 55-37 defeat.Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: It was very disappointing. We didnt really perform to the level that I feel we can, but its early days and were not going to hit the panic button after only our second competitive meeting.But I think after Friday (against Belle Vue) and a busy week next week we should be able to gauge a little better where we stand.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BELLE Vue boss Jason Attwood is calling for a positive response from his riders following their heavy defeat at Wolverhampton on Tuesday.The 59-33 Monmore reverse followed on from the Aces home loss to Wolves on Good Friday, and Attwood has highlighted the importance of their two upcoming matches against Coventry.He said: It was embarrassing to lose by that score but Im hoping we can take some positives at least. We do know the potential the lads have got but weve got to start producing it on a consistent basis.Ales Dryml, our captain, apologised to me for his performance on Tuesday. The lads didnt need telling theyd had a bad night. Now I am hoping that disappointment will cause a good reaction in the Coventry matches.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
WORKINGTON have been left reeling by the refusal of a work permit for new Australian signing Mason Campton.The Comets had purchased Campton outright from Glasgow over the winter, and the rider and his family have now engaged an immigration lawyer after his visa was refused at the Australian end.Club owner Laura Morgan said: We have experienced numerous delays in the process, which started in the first week of January, but having finally received the appropriate clearance from the UK Border Agency some weeks ago we were led to believe that the Australian side of things was something of a formality, as Mason has a valid work permit until the end of this year.While parallels may be drawn in relation to other riders that have been issued with the same decision the case of Masons has some fundamental differences. These will form the basis of a challenge, which we all hope proves to be successful and then we can have him on track here at the earliest opportunity.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
EDINBURGH launch their home season at Armadale on Friday after being delayed by poor weather in the build-up to Easter.The Monarchs did complete a meeting at Berwick last weekend but had been forced to call-off their opener due to snow.They face rivals Glasgow in the first leg of the Spring Trophy and hand home debuts to new signings Claus Vissing and Max Fricke.Monarchs chairman Alex Harkess said: Nobody had any problems (at Berwick) and everyone emerged unscathed. Now we need to step it up for our first home match and get a good lead.
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY APRIL 4:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Lakeside 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.45TYNE TEES TROPHY 1st leg: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 5:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm, Lakeside v Swindon 8pm, Peterborough v Eastbourne 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Plymouth v Rye House 7.15, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Ipswich 7.30SPRING TROPHY 1st leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 6:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Wolverhampton 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Leicester v Scunthorpe 7.30, Rye House v Somerset 7pm, Workington v Redcar 7pm40 YEARS AT LOOMER ROAD: Stoke 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 7:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pmTYNE TEES TROPHY 2nd leg: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30NATIONAL SHIELD 1st leg: Mildenhall v Dudley 4.30
