(SPEEDWAY 1 - SATURDAY REVIEW)

RYE House pulled off a remarkable result at Berwick to overturn a six-point first leg deficit and move into the semi-finals of the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup.The Rockets’ only previous win at Shielfield Park had been way back in 1977, but a 50-40 success on Saturday gave them a four-point aggregate triumph.The visitors opened the meeting with two 5-1s and then raced into a 25-11 lead, with reserve Luke Bowen clinching their progress with passing moves in Heats 12 and 14.Bowen scored (10+1) with Edward Kennett on 11, whilst Kevin Doolan (14) and Mathias Thornblom (10) were the top performers for a disappointed Berwick team.Rockets boss John Sampford said: “After what the Bandits did to us down at Rye, it was role reversal tonight. All the boys put in a superb effort, and they always believed they could pull off the result right from Heat 1. “They proved that this team CAN come back from adversity AND pull off the result on a totally different circuit and under different riding conditions.”Berwick boss John Anderson said: “This was nothing short of a disastrous night for us despite Kevin Doolan putting in a true skipper's performance - while Mathias in particular, and Coty (Garcia) had brilliant moments too,  the Rockets got precisely what they deserved, and to be frank, the Bandits got precisely what they deserved as well.“Their reserves were on fire and out-scored our reserves by an embarrassing 18+2 to 5+1 which is unacceptable in the extreme. We had put all our hopes for a good Cup win, but after that we honestly didn’t deserve the extra meetings.”In the Premier League, Edinburgh are now six points clear at the top but were left disappointed to go down 42-48 at Plymouth.The Devils eased into an eight-point lead in the first four heats, providing all four race winners to build up a defendable lead, although a string of Monarchs race wins followed and the visitors salvaged a league point with a last-heat 5-1 from Craig Cook, who had earlier smashed the track record, and guest Brady Kurtz.Plymouth co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “That was an excellent team performance with all the side working together.“We have been showing signs of improvement over the last few weeks and that result shows what we are capable of achieving when all our riders hit form.”Edinburgh boss John Campbell said: “It was a dreadfully disappointing meeting. Craig was brilliant, and Brady I’d say probably exceeded him in his brilliance because whereas Craig did it from the gate, and fast, Brady battled in a couple of races to get to the front. He was baulked on the first turn in heat 1 and was left with nowhere to go.“I’m sure we all felt we were capable of winning here but the track was super-slick, and if you weren’t clever enough to nip in on the second bend then you were basically a goner.”Elsewhere Workington secured a 49-44 victory over high-flying Peterborough at Derwent Park, with the Panthers taking a point to move into second place overall.Kenneth Hansen led the way for the home side with 12+1 and he became the only rider to defeat Panthers skipper Ulrich Ostergaard in Heat 15, his fellow Dane scoring 14 for the visitors.Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “It was a solid performance from the whole team, with everyone chipping in with vital races at the right time to claim the victory. “The Panthers are a good side as the league table shows, and while they had a few injuries they brought in ex-Comets as guests; but it was great to get the victory and, had Ricky Wells not suffered an engine failure in heat 15 when in a scoring position, the Panthers would have left empty-handed.”Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We had hoped to come to Workington and win, but picking up a point is not a bad result in the circumstances. Workington have a very strong side, but we fought until the very end to make sure we got something out of the night and it is another step closer to securing a play-off spot.“Ulrich was absolutely outstanding and his performance was all the more impressive considering he was riding his spare bike after having engine problems in his number one machine before the meeting.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Birmingham’s winning run finally came to an end as they lost out 44-49 at Rye House.The Brummies, who had won their first eleven league matches, went 12-points down after seven races at Hoddesdon before fighting back to claim a point thanks to high scoring from Josh Bates (14+2) and Adam Ellis (14).Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “It was always going to be a tough match-up and even before the meeting I’d have taken one point away from tonight’s meeting. But when you consider the situation we found ourselves in at the half-way stage, I’m over the moon to be coming away with anything in the end.“Realistically we were going to lose a meeting at some point and fair play to Rye House, they rode out of their skin and fully deserved to be the first team to beat us this year.”Meanwhile Stoke moved off the bottom of the table with an impressive 56-36 win over Kent at Loomer Road, with Lee Payne leading a strong Potters’ scorechart on 12 points - and Paul Burnett (10+1) and Jon Armstrong (10) were also in double figures. Ben Morley, with 16, contributed close to half of the King’s total.Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “It was a comfortable win, but it was a meeting we also had to win. Kent had to make a couple of changes which obviously didn’t help them and it was our job to get a victory here. “We’ve moved off the bottom this evening and that does give us all a feel-good factor around the place, and I’m really pleased about that. We will now be going for it for the remainder of the season.”

(SPEEDWAY 2 - SUNDAY PREVIEW)

GLASGOW and Peterborough are level on 37 points ahead of their Premier League clash at Ashfield on Sunday.The teams are third and second respectively and will be looking to gain ground on leaders Edinburgh, who are six points ahead.The Panthers, who have two meetings in hand on their Scottish hosts, have drafted in Matej Kus and Matthew Wethers as guests for Lewis Blackbird and Simon Lambert respectively.Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone said: “It’s a big meeting and we will approach it in the same way as we approach all others.“We’re going there with the intention of winning and, if we can’t manage that, we are looking for another league point as a minimum.”Meanwhile Newcastle and Rye House are also level, on 15 points apiece, as they go into action at Brough Park.After a dramatic win in the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup on Saturday, Rockets boss John Sampford is looking to complete their Northern tour on a high.Sampford said: “Brough Park is an acquired venue, with long straights that head into tight corners, but the Diamonds don’t look as strong as they have done in the past. “They have suffered four home defeats already in the League, so we know that they are vulnerable and we will need to attack on that basis.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Buxton can climb off the foot of the table with a home win over Eastbourne, who have four matches in hand on leaders Birmingham but trail the Brummies by 20 points.The Hitmen will give home debuts to Steven Jones and David Speight, whilst the Eagles include Ben Hopwood who started the season at the Hi-Edge Raceway.Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “Eastbourne have riders in their team who haven't seen, let alone ridden Buxton, so it's going to be interesting but I certainly predict a very close fought meeting and hopefully we will come out on top. “Mildenhall and Stoke recently managed to hold Eastbourne to draws, so I'm quite confident we can sneak a win on the day.”Eagles boss Glenn Martin said: “We just need to get over the line and win league matches away from home. Everyone is working hard to convert these ‘near misses’ into victories. We talk a lot to the riders and they know how ambitious this club is.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

PLYMOUTH have agreed terms with James Wright and expect to bring him into their team to replace Roland Benko.Wright, who had a spell with the Devils in 2014, has been without a regular team place this year but has made occasional guest appearances at reserve in the Elite League.Subject to approval, Wright will rejoin Plymouth from August 1.

(FIXTURES)

SUNDAY JULY 26:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Peterborough 3pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Eastbourne 3pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Rye House OFF

MONDAY JULY 27:ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Coventry 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 29:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 8pm, King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30