(SPEEDWAY 1 - SUNDAY REVIEW)
SHEFFIELD defied their injury problems to win 48-41 at Newcastle and move to within two points of the top of the Premier League table.Former Diamonds star Stuart Robson proved a wise choice of guest for the Tigers as he scored 11+1, with Jason Garrity top-scoring with 12+1 as the visitors took all four points from the meeting.Steve Worrall scored 11 for the home side, who now face a series of must-win fixtures if they are to challenge for a top six finish.Newcastle boss George English said: “It was a very disappointing night, we had far too many individuals that didn’t perform on the night. We looked a bit rusty and struggled to make starts while Sheffield coped with the conditions very well.“We now have to get nine points from our next three meetings to keep our play-off hopes alive.”Sheffield manager Jack Lee said: “It’s a great win for us, and to win by seven and come away with all four points was the icing on the cake.“All the lads scored some good points, it was another good team effort and everyone pulled their weight. It’s a big boost in terms of our play-off situation, an away win like this is just what we needed, so we are delighted.”Glasgow maintained fifth place with a 53-36 win over Workington at Ashfield with their top two riders in strong form and guests making a healthy contribution.Aaron Summers scored 16 and Richard Lawson 15+2 for the Tigers as they produced a strong second half of the meeting after there were only two points between the sides before Heat 9.Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “It was a good result. The second half of the meeting was fantastic - I'm very happy.“Before the meeting I thought we would win, but I had it down for maybe a four or six-point win. But to win by 17 was fantastic and the team spirit was really good. The guests all did a terrific job. We got 17 from them - you can't ask for any more than that.”In the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup, Berwick recovered from a recent run of disappointing results with a shock 48-42 triumph at Rye House in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.Thomas Jorgensen kept up his remarkable run of form for the Bandits with a 16-point haul, backed up by Kevin Doolan on 11, with the Rockets paying the price for a poor start to the meeting which saw them go 14-28 down, before Nikolaj B Jakobsen won his final three rides to finish on 11.Rye House boss John Sampford said: “Full credit to Berwick, who were so much sharper at the starts, although it certainly played into their hands when they won the toss, which gave them the outside gate positions for much of the first half of the meeting. We effectively had them for the second, which helped to make it a match of two halves“The Bandits were also much sharper in terms of regular action coming into this tie. The bottom line, though, is in the score - and they did the business here today and deserved the win.”Berwick manager John Anderson said: “After the last three meetings for the Bandits, I don't think anyone could have dared to believe we were capable of leading by so much and taking the win by six was astounding especially Thomas’s 16 points.“So we really have the boost we needed but we have to build on this immediately.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - MONDAY PREVIEW)
SWINDON’S new-look side will race at home for the first time on Monday when they take on reigning Elite League champions Poole at the Abbey Stadium.Recent signings Darcy Ward and Eduard Krcmar make their home debuts for the Robins, who have Hans Andersen guesting for the injured Nick Morris against a full-strength Pirates team who are currently seven points behind leaders Coventry with three matches in hand.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It was disappointing not to get anything from Leicester, but we have a lot of positives to take into the Poole meeting.“We saw Darcy hit the ground running so hopefully he can do the same on Monday, and after being right on the pace at Leicester we are hoping Eduard can do a solid job as well.”Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “We have been on a good run as far as collecting league points is concerned and we must remember that we are riding against Swindon and not just Darcy.“I have always claimed that he is genuine box office attraction and seeing him in the pits but in non-Pirate livery will be strange but the meeting cannot just be all about Darcy. We have 15 heats of racing to go through and need to look at keeping the pressure on Coventry and trying to get that top spot place ahead of the play-offs.”Belle Vue are at full strength for their home clash with Leicester at Kirkmanshulme Lane, with the Lions welcoming back reserve Josh Auty from injury.The visitors have booked former Belle Vue youngsters Kyle Howarth and Jason Garrity to stand in for injured duo Grzegorz Walasek and Sam Masters.Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “I’ve no doubt they’re going to come here with no fears going hell for leather and that’s something we need to take into consideration, especially with a team that’s not under great pressure.“They might be sitting more towards the bottom of the table but this isn’t a meeting we’re prepared to go into light-heartedly, so we’ll need to consolidate our efforts and team spirit ahead of time.”Meanwhile Kent host touring side Team Fritte Cup at Central Park, with the visitors racing the second match of their UK visit after their scheduled meeting at Mildenhall on Sunday was postponed.
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY JULY 13:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester OFF, Swindon v Poole 7.30CHALLENGE: Kent v Team Fritte Cup 6.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 15:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Kent 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Sheffield v Glasgow 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30, Plymouth v Workington 7.15, Scunthorpe v Ipswich 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 7.30
