(SPEEDWAY 1)
SWINDON’S 50-43 over Poole on Thursday leaves the Pirates with no margin for error in their bid to reach the Elite League play-offs.A third seven-point away defeat in succession, and the second in a week, saw the Dorset club again fall agonisingly short of a league point, as Robins duo Hans Andersen and Peter Kildemand kept Greg Hancock at the back in Heat 15.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “It's galling to lose by just seven points. It’s so near but so far and now that's three away matches on the bounce where we have just missed out and that could well prove very costly.”Swindon, meanwhile, were able to reflect on a return to form and a bumper crowd at the Abbey Stadium.Manager Alun Rossiter said: “It was a really good win in front of what was easily our best crowd of the season and probably our best attendance for a few years.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EASTBOURNE can have a big say in issues at the top of the Elite League table when they stage a double-header at Arlington on Saturday.The Eagles host top-of-the-table Birmingham at 7pm before taking on Peterborough in the second meeting of the evening, with the Panthers still eyeing a play-off place.Eastbourne co-promoter Mike Bellerby said: “The loss of early-season fixtures due to the weather and the looming cut-off date for the play-offs has forced us into having two matches on the same evening.“As it has turned out, both matches are set to have a huge impact on this year’s league. Birmingham and Peterborough are coming south desperate for points and we cannot afford to slip up as we seek to go up the table.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
COVENTRY have parted company with No.1 Krzysztof Kasprzak with just one Elite League meeting remaining for the Bees this season.Kasprzak has left Brandon after an inconsistent run of form and will be replaced by Peterborough asset Linus Sundstrom, who lost his place with the Panthers midway through the campaign due to a broken scaphoid.Coventry co-promoter Neil Watson said: “We are considering several options for next season but we are pleased to be able to bring Linus to Coventry for the King’s Lynn match and we thank his parent club Peterborough for their co-operation.“It is a shame that things have not really worked out for KK this season. Despite all the criticism there have been some top performances from him on occasions, but not as consistently as either he or we would have liked, and obviously our recent results have highlighted areas of major concern in the team.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
RYE House skipper Jason Bunyan will be fit for a big night of racing at Hoddesdon on Saturday as the Rockets look to book their place in the Premier League KO Cup Final.The semi-final second leg against Redcar, with the Bears holding an six-point lead, will be the second fixture to be staged on the evening as the double-header commences at 6pm with a league match between the Rockets and Scunthorpe.Rye boss John Sampford said: “I’ve spoken to Jason Bunyan, who has confirmed that he will be fit to ride on Saturday after his crash against Berwick. It shows his grit and determination; he is such a rock to this team.“Jason Garrity remains questionable for Saturday. If he is unable to take his place, we have Ben Morley standing by for both matches. Ben has produced some excellent – and critical – displays for us already this season, so we have plenty of potential cover there.” (SPEEDWAY 5)
LEICESTER have made two team changes ahead of their make-or-break home clash with Edinburgh on Saturday – as skipper Kauko Nieminen has been ruled out for the rest of the season.Former Lions Linus Eklof and Simon Nielsen both return to the club with reserve James Sarjeant also missing out, but a further injury blow sees Kevin Doolan ruled out with a broken rib although Alex Edberg makes his comeback.Leicester co-promoter Alan Jones said: “.As soon as we knew the situation regarding Kauko we moved quickly to cover for his absence by asking Linus to return to the club and we are thankful that he has been able to rearrange his life to answer our call for help.“The return of Alex Edberg following his injury and the re-engagement of Simon Nielsen at reserve is intended to give us greater experience where we have been lacking.”(SPEEDWAY 6)
SIMON Lambert is to return to Sheffield for their final fixtures of the Premier League season after his release from Somerset earlier in the week.Lambert enjoyed a good spell with the Tigers earlier in his career and replaces the injured Damien Koppe for the Owlerton club, who fought out a terrific 45-45 draw with Ipswich on Thursday.Sheffield co-promoter David Hoggart said: “We really didn’t want Damien rushing back because he would have done himself more damage, and we told him to concentrate fully on getting back to fitness. We are still 100 per cent committed to him, but he can’t come back before he is ready.“When we heard Simon was available again we got straight on the phone, it was a no-brainer really. He was brilliant for us in his first spell and became a real weapon for us at Owlerton, he’s not had the easiest of seasons but we think it’s going to be a good move for both of us.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY AUGUST 30:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Sheffield 7.15PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Dudley 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 31:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7pm, Eastbourne v Peterborough (follows previous match)PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Rye House v Scunthorpe 6pm, Leicester v Edinburgh 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Rye House v Redcar (follows PL fixture)NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 7pmTYNE/TWEED TROPHY: Berwick v Newcastle 7pmSUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 3pm, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Mildenhall 3pm
