(SPEEDWAY 1 – SUNDAY REVIEW)
GLASGOW skipper Theo Pijper admitted there were no excuses after the Tigers were routed 35-58 at home by fierce rivals Edinburgh.It was an eighth successive win for the Monarchs at the start of the season but the Ashfield side are still awaiting their first success, although they have only raced two home matches so far – both against Edinburgh!Pijper said: “I don't think we've had enough track time yet. But that's not an excuse - we need to be on the ball. There's no excuse for anybody. It just needs to happen.“The boys need to get confident and we need to get heat wins. If you get heat wins, you get pride. We're trying our best and that's all we can do.”Craig Cook led the way for the Monarchs with a 14-point haul, and boss Alex Harkess said: “I didn’t really expect a score like that but we were brilliant. Every scored well and it’s good to see Aaron Fox amongst the points too.”Elsewhere in the Border group of the League Cup, Workington’s Mason Campton scored a four-ride paid maximum in the Comets’ 51-38 win over Berwick – for whom boss Ian Rae remained in upbeat mood after his side were hampered by a night of multiple problems for in-form Claus Vissing.He said: “Five different Bandits won races – an excellent record, and Steen (Jensen) was again breath-taking with his passes and moves, whilst it’s obvious Claus was worth way more than the one point he got – it was overall a positive night despite the loss.”In the Northern group Newcastle got the better of Scunthorpe 49-39 in an eventful meeting at Brough Park which included two 5-0s to the home side.Stuart Robson led the way for the Diamonds with 14 points, and boss George English said: “This again could have gone either way, but this time our lads started to dig deep just at the right time and with Anton (Rosen) and Ludvig (Lindgren) taking that vital Heat 13 maximum we certainly took a victory we should be proud to take.”Scunthorpe manager Dave Peet said: “It’s not hard to see it would have been very close without the two 5-0s. We matched the Diamonds in the other 13 races.”In the Southern group Rye House completed a miserable Easter for Ipswich with a 51-39 win at Hoddesdon, highlighted by a 14-point haul from reserve Luke Bowen – leaving the Witches pointless from three holiday fixtures.Rockets promoter Len Silver said: “Up to the Easter weekend, the Witches were undefeated and you don’t get to that position unless you are a very good side. So to beat them so convincingly was tremendous.” In the National League there was an impressive 48-42 away win for Coventry at Mildenhall, with Oliver Greenwood (12) and Luke Crang (10+1) heading up a solid effort from the Storm.Co-boss Laurence Rogers said: “We’re absolutely proud of the lads, and for Mick (Horton), Blayne (Scroggins) and I to go back to our old hunting ground and take victory made it a sweet success! We were dominant all the way through, and all in all it was a great team effort.”The Fen Tigers were without No.1 Joe Jacobs and Brendan Johnson, and chairman Kevin Jolly said: “This was an impressive performance by Coventry, make no mistake they have a very strong top five and as I said to one of their management team, they are as a big a danger to us as Cradley. “We have to just put this down to a bad day at the office and look to move on, our team is still bedding into the season and I still have total faith in them despite this defeat.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – MONDAY PREVIEW)
COVENTRY and Cradley revive a traditional Easter Bank Holiday fixture when they meet at Brandon in the National League on Monday evening (7.30pm).Both sides go into the meeting at full strength and with confidence high as the Storm won at Mildenhall yesterday whilst the Heathens are unbeaten so far this season.Coventry co-boss Laurence Rogers said: “The boys are on a high after the win at Mildenhall, and this will be a true cracker. I hope the fans come along and support us.”Cradley manager Will Pottinger said: “I've said there are tougher tests to come and this is one of them. Coventry are a strong side, they pushed us hard in the home leg of the Travel Plus Trophy and they're strongly tipped to challenge for the title.”Meanwhile Kent launch the second season of racing at Central Park with the Easter Trophy when they face the King’s Lynn Young Stars (3pm).The home side name Luke Harris in their No.6 position following the retirement of Dan Blake, whilst the visitors include Marc Owen after injury to Darryl Ritchings.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SWINDON have released Danish rider Nicolai Klindt and replaced him with former Peterborough man Dakota North.The Australian is set to join the Robins in time for their Elite League home clash with Eastbourne on Thursday – with boss Alun Rossiter admitting he needed to make a quick move after two early-season defeats at Blunsdon.Rossiter said: “I wanted to do something to show everyone, the team, our sponsors and our supporters, that we are not prepared to accept second best.“It's harsh on Nicolai but we need something extra and naturally I wish him well and hope he gets fixed up elsewhere in the not too distant future. Dakota is a rider I’ve been interested in before and I’m pleased to welcome him to Swindon.”
(FIXTURES)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
WEDNESDAY APRIL 23:ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Poole 7.30, King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 24:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Sheffield 7.45ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Scunthorpe 7.30, Redcar v Glasgow 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 25:ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Swindon 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Plymouth v Redcar 7.15LEAGUE CUP: Somerset v Rye House 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Devon 7.30
