(SPEEDWAY 1 – MONDAY REVIEW)
COVENTRY are the first team through to the Elite League Grand Final with a 50-45 win at Swindon on Monday for a 13-point aggregate triumph.The Bees led by eight going into the second leg and made a flying start at Blunsdon to leave the Robins playing catch-up even on the night.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter was forced to use both tactical rides but when Peter Kildemand was beaten by guest Max Fricke in Heat 10 the visitors had virtually secured their progression.British youngster Kyle Howarth played a starring role for the Bees against his former club with 13+1, dropping his only point in Heat 1, whilst Fricke added 10+1. Peter Kildemand top-scored for the Robins on 12+1, but their title hopes are now over.Coventry manager Gary Havelock said: “I certainly expected us to run them close on the night, and I was absolutely certain that there was no way we’d perform as badly as we did here last time.“Kyle and Max were sensational, and also James Sarjeant was unbelievable with the way he came past Steve Worrall in Heat 2, but all of them were great.“As I’ve said before, backs to the wall is when you find out about your team, and we’ve certainly found out a lot about these riders during the season.”Rossiter said: “The weather was a bit of a leveller because the track conditions certainly didn’t suit us, but I can’t fault the effort that went in to get the meeting on.“Full credit to Coventry – they were really up for it and riding well so we were just beaten by a better team in the end. They were making starts and we just couldn’t get off the line, we weren’t fast enough away from the gate and with the track the way it was we made things hard for ourselves.”Meanwhile Poole and King’s Lynn will make a second attempt to stage their semi-final at Wimborne Road on Thursday after Monday’s scheduled second leg was postponed.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SOMERSET expect to have Olly Allen and Charles Wright both back from injury in time for Friday’s crunch Premier League play-off encounter with Ipswich.Both riders suffered knocks in recent group matches, and the position now is that the Rebels will need a home win of seven points or more at home to the Witches to reach the Final against Edinburgh – with any other result sending the Foxhall club through.Somerset promoter Debbie Hancock said: “Apart from the Grand Final itself, matches don’t come much bigger than this.“Friday night is a must win match for us, so the rally call is for all those Somerset Rebels fans out there to get down to the Oaktree Arena on Friday night and get behind the team as they bid to qualify for what would be an unprecedented 3rd successive Championship Grand Final.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 – TUESDAY REVIEW
CRADLEY overcame Birmingham 55-38 in their West Midlands Trophy challenge clash at Monmore Green.Paul Starke and Steve Worrall both scored maximums for the Heathens whilst the Brummies, managed by their ex-Elite League boss Phil Morris, were led by Simon Lambert on 13+1.Cradley manager Will Pottinger said: “It was a good test for us against a strong Birmingham side, and we came through it well.“A few lads had some problems but everyone played their part again and it was good to get some track time to make sure everyone stays sharp.Morris said: “It was good to see the Birmingham race-jacket back on track, and it was good for the fans to get to see their club riding again.“Obviously the result wasn’t what we were hoping for, but it was an enjoyable meeting with some good racing and it was good to see plenty of Birmingham supporters on the terraces watching speedway again.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 9:ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 10:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Somerset v Ipswich 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7pmLEAGUE CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Peterborough (follows PLKOC fixture)NATIONAL LEAGUE: Devon v Mildenhall 7.15CHALLENGE: Kent v Arena-Essex 6.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 11:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS/BORDER TROPHY 1st leg: Berwick v Workington 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 12:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS/BORDER TROPHY 2nd leg: Workington v Berwick 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Sheffield 5pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Buxton (follows PL fixture)
