(SPEEDWAY 1 – SATURDAY REVIEW)
WORKINGTON booked their place in the Premier League play-offs at the last gasp by taking four points from their two home matches with Sheffield at Derwent Park last night.The Comets defeated the Tigers 50-43 in the first clash before the visitors fought back to claim a 45-45 draw later in the evening.Afterwards, a relieved Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: “For each match to go right to the wire was a bit too close for comfort – as we won by exactly enough to collect three match points from the first match and then claimed a draw to get our fourth match point in the second. But, at the end of the day, no-one remembers how you booked your spot; just that you were in them!“We have had a tough run in to this position; having ridden thirteen league matches in the past sixteen days, and I think the tiredness of both man and machine caught up with us tonight but thankfully we were able to limp over the line as it were! “However, after a few days rest we will be able to get on with the play-offs, which we are obviously delighted to reach yet again.”As the Comets celebrated, there was heartbreak for Newcastle who lost skipper Stuart Robson in a first-ride crash at Edinburgh – yet still only went down to a 41-48 defeat against the team now level on points at the top of the table.Monarchs boss Alex Harkess admitted his side had been fortunate to maintain their perfect home record as the five-man Diamonds put up a terrific battle, only to end up two points short of Workington in the table ahead of the cut-off.Harkess said: “It was a very disappointing night and you have to say we were very lucky to win. There was no shale on our track after the double header last night (Friday) and while that was a good night, tonight was our worst meeting of the season.“Everyone was making mistakes, our riders just as much as theirs, and our top two just could not get out of the start. The one exception was Max (Fricke) who was tremendous, and Justin (Sedgmen) also when he made the gate was as quick as anybody.”Newcastle manager George English said: “We lost Robbo after his first 50 yards of racing tonight due to his crash and we can only sit back and wonder what might have been had the skipper taken all his rides.“But looking at the positives, one vital man down, we put in a stunning performance with only five men including a guest at reserve, but they all had inspired moments and we raced well, and yes we really did deserve a point at least.”Rye House enjoyed one of their best nights of the season with a 59-35 win over play-off qualifiers Scunthorpe at Hoddesdon, headed by a 16-point haul from Edward Kennett.Rockets promoter Len Silver said: “You have to think: why not every weekend? But that is what Speedway is; it’s unpredictable. But they have ridden their hearts out.”The Scorpions, meanwhile, have a concern over captain Ashley Birks who fell in his third ride and withdrew with a wrist injury.Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “Our main concern is Ashley. His wrist has swollen up and he’ll be off to hospital to have an X-ray on it.“Rider replacement was never going to adequately cover David Howe, and when Ash crashed out as well, we just couldn’t cover it. We also then lost any chance to play it tactically, we just had to put out Tom Perry where we could.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SUNDAY PREVIEW)
EDINBURGH require a point at Glasgow on Sunday to overhaul Somerset and take over top spot in the Premier League table ahead of the play-offs.The Monarchs took maximum points from their busy home schedule earlier in the weekend and now need to remain within six points on the day at Ashfield to secure themselves first choice of opponents in the next stage.Glasgow’s own chances evaporated with their heavy defeat at Armadale on Friday, but captain Theo Pijper says the Tigers are keen to get the bragging rights back on their home circuit.Pijper said: “Sunday is probably our best chance to beat Edinburgh this year. It's going to be a hard meeting but we will see how it goes. We just need to hit them from the start.”Meanwhile Peterborough wrap up their regular league campaign with the visit of Rye House to the Showground.The Panthers have missed out on the top six and bring in Todd Kurtz as a guest following the recent departures of Richard Hall and Ales Dryml, whilst Simon Lambert comes in for the Rockets.Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “It hasn't panned out the way we would have hoped, but we need to finish the league fixtures with the right performance and result.“We have a League Cup final to look forward to and we all remain determined to pick up silverware this season. But first and foremost it is about putting a good show for our supporters today.”Rye House manager John Sampford said: “We’ll go there with an open mind to get the best possible result. We have enjoyed a great record against Peterborough so far this year, with four wins in four matches, but it won’t be about that on Sunday. We will approach it like we do every other match, and treat it on its own merits by focusing on the result on the day.”The Panthers v Rockets clash is followed by the inaugural staging of the British 150cc Final with several top youngsters on show.(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Rye House 2.30, Glasgow v Edinburgh 5pmBRITISH 150cc FINAL: Peterborough (follows PL meeting)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15:BRITISH UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent 7pmELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7pm, Belle Vue v Eastbourne (follows previous fixture), Coventry v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Newcastle v Glasgow 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Lakeside 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Poole 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: King’s Lynn v Stoke 7.30
