(SPEEDWAY 1 – THURSDAY REVIEW)
SHEFFIELD snatched a crucial victory in dramatic circumstances as a last heat decider saw them edge a 46-44 win over Redcar at Owlerton.The Tigers needed a victory to keep their League Cup hopes alive and took it with a 4-2 from Simon Stead and Leigh Lanham after playing catch-up for most of the meeting.Manager Joe Screen said: “With the way we started off I thought it might be a long night, so we're really pleased to have been able to snatch the win in Heat 15 like we did.“Although I'm happy we won it wasn't the greatest performance, and we still have issues as a team that we need to address pretty soon.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SCUNTHORPE No.1 Anders Mellgren could be back in action earlier than expected – after it was initially thought he would be out for the entire season.The Swede suffered a fracture in his spine after a crash at Redcar but it has now been screwed and plated and the recovery period could be as short as six weeks.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I don’t think it’s going to stop us making changes, once we get our new averages. Six weeks is a long time to use guests and rider replacement - guest riders are always something of a lottery.“And that six-week time period may still be slightly optimistic - we don’t know. But it is tremendous news that Anders will be back. There will be a team place for him, once he’s fully fit and ready.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BUXTON have called on the vastly experienced Tony Atkin to come out of retirement and assist the Hitmen at the start of the season.Atkin will be in the team for their opening National League match at Cradley on April 29, with the home opener being a challenge match against Stoke on May 4.Promoter Jayne Moss said: “Tony has a wealth of experience which will be invaluable to the newcomers in the team. Although he retired part way through last season he has kept his hand in racing in grasstrack meetings and practicing and has agreed to start the season for us.“We heard from a couple of people that he might be interested in doing a few meetings and soon sorted it out with him. It’s no secret that it has been hard work putting a team together with a shortage of heat-leaders around this year.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY APRIL 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 12pm, Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30, Coventry v Leicester 7.30, Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.45, Lakeside v Eastbourne 1pm, Poole v Swindon 11am, Swindon v Poole 8pmLEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Ipswich v Peterborough 2.15, Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 3pm, Somerset v Plymouth 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Mildenhall (follows LC fixture)
SATURDAY APRIL 19:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Coventry 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Plymouth v Somerset 7.15SUNDAY APRIL 20:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30, Rye House v Ipswich 2pm, Workington v Berwick 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Coventry 3.30
MONDAY APRIL 21:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Cradley 7.30EASTER TROPHY: Kent v King’s Lynn 3pm
TUESDAY APRIL 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
