(SPEEDWAY 1 – FRIDAY ELITE LEAGUE REVIEW)
ELITE League Champions Poole were double winners on Good Friday with home and away triumphs over Swindon to take six points from their programme.The Pirates roared to a 56-34 win on home shale before snatching a 47-45 verdict at Blunsdon thanks to a last-lap effort by Przemyslaw Pawlicki – who had been withdrawn from the morning meeting after a crash with team-mate Vaclav Milik– to pass home star Peter Kildemand for a crucial second place.Meanwhile King’s Lynn inflicted more misery on Birmingham with an emphatic 60-30 away win at Perry Barr.Danish star Kenneth Bjerre scored a five-ride paid maximum whilst fast-track reserve Lewis Kerr piled up an incredible 13 (paid 14), including four race wins.Brummies skipper Danny King said: “Obviously we are disappointed - it's never nice to lose at home and it wasn't a good performance. Some of the riders are struggling, we just aren't performing and we need to step up to the plate soon.”Lakeside and Eastbourne both gained home wins from their day’s efforts, but it was the Hammers who secured the bulk of the points on offer.A 55-41 win at Purfleet gave them all three points from the first meeting and although the Eagles responded 48-42 at Arlington, the Hammers took a further league point as Lewis Bridger and Peter Karlsson shared Heat 15 behind Bjarne Pedersen.The Midlands derby between Coventry and Leicester also saw both sides take some reward as the Bees were limited to a 48-42 win thanks to some dogged resistance from the Lions.Danish duo Patrick Hougaard (thumb) and Kenneth Hansen (back and knee) were both ruled out after an early crash with the Bees’ win sparked by an impressive show by Kyle Howarth (14) – whilst Mads Korneliussen and Jason Doyle grabbed a point for the Lions with a 4-2 in the last race.Howarth said: “It’s a shame we missed out on getting another point, but it’s a start. Losing Kenneth was a big blow as he’s an eight-point man at home, but that’s speedway and there’s a long season ahead – we’re only at the start.”Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “We have been threatening to open our away account in two of the last three fixtures on the road and I was really pleased with how the team applied themselves.”A midday clash at Kirkmanshulme Lane saw Belle Vue hold on for a 50-39 win over Wolverhampton, who saw both of their tactical rides score zero after falls for Tai Woffinden and Piotr Pawlicki.The visitors still clawed their way back into contention for a point but Scott Nicholls saw the Aces home to all three with a winning ride in Heat 15.Manager Jason Attwood said: “It feels great for us to beat a good Wolves side, not only because they won twice here last year but it's their first defeat this season and it was dealt at the hands of Belle Vue.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – FRIDAY LEAGUE CUP/NATIONAL LEAGUE REVIEW)
EDINBURGH and Sheffield are both through to the League Cup semi-finals after impressive victories on Good Friday.The Monarchs comfortably overcame Scottish rivals Glasgow 55-38 to set a new club record for wins at the start of the season – seven in all competitions – and they now cannot be caught at the top of the group.Manager Alex Harkess said: “We weren’t at our best in the early stages but we came good in the end as we often do, and these two late wins by Craig Cook sent the crowd home happy.”Sheffield are also into the last four thanks to a stunning 53-37 win at former group leaders Redcar, with British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates notching an impressive 13-point haul, including victory in Heat 15.Co-promoter Damien Bates said: “It was a fantastic performance and I’m so proud of them. They were strong from 1-7 and the spirit is so good in the camp after this week that we’ll take anyone on.”Elsewhere in the group, Scunthorpe were 49-44 winners over Newcastle with in-form reserve Ryan Douglas winning four races on his way to a 15-point total, whilst Stuart Robson matched that achievement for the Diamonds after a first-ride last place following mechanical trouble.Scunthorpe manager Dave Peet said: “We are getting it together, although perhaps it is slower than I expected. At least we are now winning meetings – but our home form must improve. We have to be taking three points from the home meetings.”Newcastle boss George English said: “We could have won this match this and taken three or four points, but even going down by five I have to focus on the fact there were several improved performances that shine a bright light for the future.”The Southern group appears to have swung in Peterborough’s favour after the Panthers collected a massive seven points from their double-header with Ipswich.The Showground side won 54-39 at Foxhall on Friday afternoon before adding a 52-40 victory at home, despite the first-ride loss of Joe Jacobs (concussion).Skipper Ulrich Ostergaard said: “I’m proud of the way the whole team did so well to get us to the top of our group. It is great for the spirit in the camp when all the guys are scoring points and we are on a high after these two results.”Meanwhile Ipswich boss Chris Louis was frustrated by the Witches’ home display, saying: “That was a very lacklustre and disappointing performance and for this to happen in front of one of our biggest crowds of the season is inexcusable.”Peterborough go top of the group whilst rivals Somerset dropped a point in a 49-43 home win over Plymouth, for whom Kalle Katajisto piled up 15 (paid 16) at reserve.Manager Garry May said: “After gaining the upper hand early on, we lost our way a bit mid-meeting and didn't press home our advantage, and when Plymouth started to out-gate us, it just made things all the more difficult for us.”In the National League Mildenhall got off to a winning start with a 63-29 victory at Scunthorpe, headed by a 13-point total from reserve Connor Mountain.
(SPEEDWAY 3 – SATURDAY PREVIEW)
LEICESTER and Coventry both have injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s Elite League local derby return fixture at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.Lions star Patrick Hougaard crashed out in Heat 3 at Brandon last night, suffering a broken thumb, whilst the avoiding action taken by the Bees’ Kenneth Hansen saw him suffer bruising to his back and knee.The Bees had already booked one guest for the East Midlands clash, calling up Edinburgh’s Max Fricke to replace the unavailable Kyle Howarth, who top-scored on Friday – whilst Simon Stead returns to the Lions team.In the League Cup, back-to-back clashes between Berwick and Workington commence at Shielfield Park – and Bandits promoter Ryan Anderson is expecting a tough challenge. He said: “When the various teams in the Premier League were set up this season, virtually all the pundits named Workington as title favourites. Now we’re a month into the season and I see no reason to argue with them! Their management have constructed at very solid line-up, and Saturday and Sunday’s racing will be very, very tough for our team.”Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “Obviously the two defeats by Edinburgh were very disappointing but we all had a good chat about things afterwards and the team are all desperate to show that they can produce a much better showing this weekend.”In the Southern group, Plymouth and Somerset will both have their respective No.1 riders – Ben Barker and Nick Morris – back from Elite League duty for Saturday’s clash at the St Boniface Arena, with the Rebels having been limited to two points on Friday.Manager Garry May said: “Dropping that home point is not what we really wanted, but the boys are all keen to make amends when we travel down to Plymouth for the return fixture.”
(FIXTURES)
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
