(SPEEDWAY 1 – FRIDAY REVIEW)
LAKESIDE defeated Swindon 56-38 to return to the top of the Elite League table – with Ben Morley becoming the first reserve to score a maximum under the new draft system.Morley followed his partner home in each of his four rides to score eight paid twelve, twice getting the better of Robins middle-order man Dakota North in the process.With three other riders being paid for double figures, the Hammers were clear winners after a fast start saw them open up a 22-7 lead after five races, although an outstanding display from Peter Kildemand (16) was a bright spot for the visitors.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “Obviously we are bitterly disappointed with the performance because we wanted to try and come away with something.“We are struggling a bit at reserve at the moment and Bjarne (Pedersen) normally would be good for a lot more than 2+1. It was a frustrating night but we just need to regroup and pick ourselves back up.”Somerset kept their hopes of qualifying for the League Cup semi-finals alive with a thumping 62-28 home win over Rye House, led by a paid-14 score from Australian youngster Brady Kurtz.Rebels boss Garry May said: “The guys were just awesome. We needed a big win to keep in the hunt for the League Cup semi-finals and the boys certainly did that! I asked for a response after our defeat at Plymouth last week and they did it in the best possible way.”Ben Barker scored a paid maximum as Plymouth opened up an eight-point advantage over Redcar in the first leg of their Knockout Cup tie.Barker was well supported by reserve Kalle Katajisto, who scored 14 from seven starts as the Devils won 49-41 with Carl Wilkinson (10) top-scoring for the Bears.Plymouth boss Lee Trigger said: “We started well and took a six-point lead from the first four races but failed to build on it at that stage. But we came back well at the end to win by eight points.“That will give us a head start in the second leg, although I would like to think that we have a side capable of winning on the night in the away match against Redcar.”(SPEEDWAY 2 – SATURDAY PREVIEW)
LEICESTER boss Norrie Allan is demanding maximum points from his side’s home clash with Eastbourne as they look to make progress in the Elite League.The Lions have already lost at home to Wolverhampton and Coventry and now face the Eagles who impressed in a narrow defeat at Swindon on Thursday. Track specialist Nick Morris is included as a guest for the home side in place of the injured Patrick Hougaard.Allan said: “The match point we picked up at Coventry was scrubbed out the following night in the return fixture at home when we let slip a six point lead. We were all deflated to say the least. I thought the night before was the beginning of a turn in fortune and if someone had said to me that Jason Doyle would go through the card unbeaten at home then I would have expected us to win. “We are a much better team than that and nothing short of a win against Eastbourne, and by that I mean three match points in the bag, is needed to keep in touch with the in-form teams above us in the league table.”In the Premier League, former Workington man Richard Lawson guests against his old club as he lines up at No.1 for Peterborough, who go into their Northern tour without No.1 Ryan Fisher due to injury. Lawson will continue when the Panthers also visit Glasgow on Sunday.Co-boss Trevor Swales said: “We made it very clear during the winter that we arrive in the Premier League with high expectations. Reaching the play-offs is our minimum target and it is essential to get off to a good start if that is going to happen.“In recent seasons we have paid the price for starting poorly and we cannot allow that to be the case again. We need to stamp our authority on the league from the word go.”Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “We are under no illusions as to just how tough our opening fixture against Peterborough will be. The Panthers are strongly fancied by many pundits and they are another big track team, who include former Comet Ulrich Ostergaard in their ranks, so we will have to be firing on all cylinders for sure.”Elsewhere, former Rye House man Pontus Aspgren guests for Scunthorpe at Hoddesdon - and home boss John Sampford is aware of the threat he poses.Sampford said: “The Scorpions are a good side - they’ve already won away at Sheffield to prove it – and Pontus Aspgren is an excellent choice of guest. He was paid for 14 when Somerset visited us recently.”Meanwhile Berwick and Newcastle have both named full-strength teams for their clash at Shielfield Park, the first of back-to-back matches between the clubs as they also meet on Tyneside on Sunday.(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY APRIL 26:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm,
Rye House v Scunthorpe off
Workington v Peterborough 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Peterborough 3pm, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30, Scunthorpe v Plymouth 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v King’s Lynn (follows PL fixture)
MONDAY APRIL 28:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Newcastle 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Buxton 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 30:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Rye House 7.30ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Birmingham 7.30
