(SPEEDWAY 1 – SATURDAY REVIEW)
COVENTRY added four points to their Elite League total with a 50-40 win at local rivals Leicester – their second success on their road this season.The Bees, without two of their regulars, overturned the Lions’ early six-point lead to give the better all-round team display despite home No.1 Jason Doyle scoring a terrific 15-point maximum.Hans Andersen and Chris Harris were both in double figures for the visitors and received good support from their team-mates, but for the Lions Doyle lacked backing.Andersen said: “We showed real character to come back from six points down at one stage, and to come back and claim all four points away from home is really good. Leicester are a good team and this is not an easy place to come to.”Leicester boss Norrie Allan had no complaints, and said: “We began well enough and I had every confidence in the team to compete on equal terms in the latter stages, but to their credit Coventry stepped up to another level and fully deserved their win. We have a week now to regroup and prepare ourselves for the visit of Eastbourne on Saturday.”In the League Cup Plymouth mounted an astonishing comeback from ten points down at home to defeat Somerset 52-41.Guest Steve Boxall’s tactical ride win in Heat 8 for an 8-1 with Kalle Katajisto sparked the turnaround as the Devils dominated the second half of the meeting.Manager Lee Trigger said: “We rallied and rode together as a team to win by 11 points in what was a 21-points turnaround. It was a big team effort and provided some great entertainment for the public.”Angry Somerset boss Garry May said: “To say that I am not happy with tonight's performance would be an understatement, and I would like to apologise to those fans who made the trip down to support the team for the poor showing in the second half of the match.”There was also drama at Shielfield Park with Berwick snatching victory over Workington thanks to a last-heat 5-1 from Claus Vissing and Matthew Wethers – with Steen Jensen also playing a major part in the Bandits’ 46-44 win.Manager Ian Rae said: “We didn’t do too badly considering two of our recent good scorers took a hard bang in two early falls with Liam Carr lucky to feel ok to ride again, whilst David Bellego took a second fall an had to withdraw with a painful shoulder.“But Steen has certainly developed into the most exciting Bandit of the moment with some stunning passes and a double-figure point score too which was vital.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SUNDAY PREVIEW)
RYE House are seeking to rebound from successive home defeats when Ipswich visit Hoddesdon in the League Cup on Easter Sunday afternoon (2pm).The Rockets put in a creditable performance in a recent loss at Foxhall but the Witches themselves are eager to respond after back-to-back Good Friday defeats against Peterborough.Rye boss John Sampford said: “There are no easy matches in this League, but we’ve already taken something positive from holding the Witches to ten points around their place. Now it’s up to us to show what we are capable of around ours.”Scottish rivals Glasgow and Edinburgh meet at Ashfield with the Tigers keen to end the Monarchs’ winning run at the start of the season.Boss Stewart Dickson said: “We need to get that win as quickly as we can. The target is definitely to win the match on Sunday.”Elsewhere in the same group, Workington host Berwick in a reverse of Saturday’s fixture at Shielfield Park in which the Bandits snatched a last-gasp 46-44 win.And Newcastle and Scunthorpe meet in the Northern section, fresh from a close contest at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday which the Scorpions edged 49-44.National League action takes place at West Row with former Mildenhall No.1 Stefan Nielsen returning with new club Coventry, as both sides look for a second win in the competition this season.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SCUNTHORPE have signed Cornishman Sam Chapman on a full contract to join their National League team.Chapman made an impressive debut for the Stags last weekend with 12 points in their match against Cradley, although he failed to score against Mildenhall on Friday.Manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “We’re delighted that Sam has now signed for us and become part of the club. He comes from Cornwall. We could all see his potential in the Cradley match, when he nearly defeated Tom Perry in a couple of races.“He wasn’t able to trap like last week (on Friday), and couldn’t work out what was different with his bike.”(FIXTURES)SUNDAY 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
