(SPEEDWAY 1 - SATURDAY REVIEW)
BERWICK returned to winning ways with a 50-43 victory over Workington at Shielfield Park to dent the Comets’ hopes of reaching the Premier League play-offs.The Bandits were well-served by their guests with Ryan Fisher top-scoring on 16+1, whilst Ben Barker returned to the club to score 9+1, and skipper Kevin Doolan was in double-figures with ten.Ricky Wells (14) and Matthew Wethers (13+3) provided the bulk of the Comets’ scoring, but they are still left without a league point on the road this season.Berwick boss John Anderson said: “This was more like it and our side finally took a deserved win - our first for quite a while, and it was good to have Ben Barker back with us for some good exciting racing. We will try to make as decent an end to the season as we can.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Cradley’s title hopes took a hit with a 36-29 defeat at Rye House in a meeting curtailed after eleven races due to rain.The Heathens led by one point after eight heats but the final three to be possible as the weather closed in went heavily in the Raiders’ favour.Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “It was unfortunate the rain came, we started off pretty well but when the rain started Rye House were the better team.“The lads tried their best, but we just ran out of riders in the end and it was frustrating to just miss out on a point. It was a good effort, but just one of those nights where we didn't quite have enough.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SUNDAY PREVIEW)
BELLE Vue will be without No.1 Matej Zagar for their crunch Elite League clash with Leicester at Kirkmanshulme Lane on Sunday afternoon.Zagar, who won last night’s Grand Prix in Gorzow, is feeling the effects of an horrific crash in Heat 18 with injuries to hip and groin as well as an aggravation of previous knocks.Chris Harris has been booked to guest for Aces, who will move back into the top four with a win and may well need positive results from both this fixture and their away match at Wolverhampton on Monday to keep their hopes alive.Belle Vue star Craig Cook said: “Our fate will now somewhat have to write itself, as King’s Lynn and Swindon still have matches in hand, but delivering the goods in our last two matches can only help.“That is something we simply have to do now. There’s no question. Maximum points from both our home and away match is a minimum requirement. Every point counts and is crucial.”Carl Wilkinson guests for the unavailable Steve Worrall at reserve for Belle Vue, whilst Jason Garrity comes in at reserve for the Lions - whose boss Norrie Allan is hoping for an improvement on their early-season trip to Manchester.He said: “It was not the best preparation as we went into the match without Bjarne Pedersen who took ill beforehand, and then we lost Grzegorz Walasek with a suspected broken hand during his second ride. “We were already missing Mikkel Michelsen who was also nursing an injury sustained during a pre-season friendly, so I am hoping that with a more settled team we can give a better account of ourselves this time.”In the Premier League, Workington host Berwick in the reverse fixture from Saturday’s encounter at Shielfield Park, with the Comets currently boasting a 100 per cent home record.Meanwhile Glasgow and Newcastle are set for a busy day of Travel Plus Tours KO Cup action as the sides meet at Ashfield at 1.30pm before heading south for the return on Tyneside at 8pm.The Tigers continue to operate rider replacement for the injured Kauko Nieminen whilst Matej Kus steps in for Lewis Kerr for the Diamonds at Ashfield, with Richie Worrall coming in at Brough Park. They also use r/r for Christian Henry.Glasgow’s James Sarjeant said: “They've got a few injuries so this would be the time to beat them. The last time we were there, we lost, but I definitely think we could win.“I did a guest booking a few weeks after that for Sheffield there, and everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I got knocked off and excluded for it - it wasn't my meeting. But we'll just forget about that this time, it's a new meeting and a new day.”Newcastle boss George English said: “It is the most important day in the season for us on Sunday and it will determine if our season is extended or not.”“We know that it is going to be a very tough test against Glasgow but we feel that we can give them a really good run for their money. We go into the tie on the back of some fantastic home form which gives the whole team plenty of confidence.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Mildenhall host Buxton with the sides currently level on 16 points in the bottom two positions - but only five points away from fourth place.Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “After our home defeat to Rye House last Sunday, it's looking like nothing less than a win at Mildenhall will be acceptable now if the lads want to look at extending their season. “The KOC has now gone for another year, but we still have a chance of some extra meetings by finishing in fourth spot and qualifying for the Gold Cup. I've not looked too closely at all the permutations yet, but I believe that if we were to win this meeting and our other away meeting at Coventry and also our last 3 home meetings, then this should see us qualify.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SOMERSET’S Oliver Greenwood has been ruled out with a broken collarbone after a crash at the Oaktree Arena on Friday.The British Under-19 Champion will therefore miss the trip to his former club Peterborough on Bank Holiday Monday and it leaves the Rebels looking for guests, with Berwick’s Fernando Garcia coming in against the Panthers.Manager Garry May said: “Unfortunately Ollie’s injury came on the last day upon which teams could make any rider changes and so that means that we will not be able to sign a permanent replacement for Ollie and will have to go with guest replacements instead.“The injury also came at a time when Ollie was just starting to come into his own, he had a couple of good meetings on our recent Northern tour and his fall came as he was challenging for the lead, so it was a big blow for the lad as well.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY AUGUST 30:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 3.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Berwick 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP: Glasgow v Newcastle 1.30, Newcastle v Glasgow 8pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 3.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Northside OFF
MONDAY AUGUST 31:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 7.30, Leicester v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Somerset 3pm, Rye House v Plymouth 2pm, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 3pmKENT COUNTY FOUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent 3pmMIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ FINAL: Scunthorpe (follows PL fixture)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30, King’s Lynn v Kent 7.30
