(SPEEDWAY 1 - SUNDAY REVIEW)
BELLE Vue kept their Elite League play-off hopes alive with a 53-37 win over Leicester at Kirkmansulme Lane on Sunday.Should the Aces fail to finish in the top four, the meeting will have been the last at the Aces’ home since 1988 as they move into the new National Speedway Stadium next year.Craig Cook (13+1) and Scott Nicholls (11+2) led the scoring for the home side with guest Jason Garrity scoring 14 for the Lions.Nicholls said: “We certainly couldn't take the Lions for granted and it wasn’t a dead cert that we were going to come away with the win, but we did what we had to do ahead of our trip to Wolves tomorrow (Monday).“It was an emotional end to the meeting for everyone because whatever happens tomorrow, that could well have been the last laps of a speedway bike around the old Kirkmanshulme Lane.”Newcastle are through to the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup semi-finals thanks to a 17-point aggregate win over Glasgow.The Tigers picked up a 48-42 win from their home leg at lunchtime but that did not prove to be enough for the return at Brough Park later in the evening, as the Diamonds won 56-33.Newcastle will now face Edinburgh in the last four, and will travel to Armadale for the first leg on Friday.Manager George English said: “I’m very pleased with the all-round team performance over both legs. We knew that we had to hit Glasgow hard early on in the second leg and we did just that.“The team knew how important it was for the fans to progress to the next round and keep our chance of silverware for this season alive. We now face a tough test against Edinburgh on Friday.”Meanwhile in the Premier League Workington were comfortable 59-33 winners over Berwick with Kenneth Hansen (17+1) and Ricky Wells (15) both scoring maximums.Berwick boss John Anderson said: “Workington still proved on their own circuit they can out-move any one, and it’s no wonder they are still unbeaten on their own shale. They deserved their win tonight.”(SPEEDWAY 2 - MONDAY PREVIEW)
ELITE League leaders Poole head to Leicester on Bank Holiday Monday looking to further boost their position at the top of the table.But Pirates promoter Matt Ford admits the serious injuries suffered by club asset Darcy Ward are still uppermost in their minds as they prepare to go into action for the first time since that accident.Ford said: “We have felt a broken club since last Sunday and dealing with the news has taken a considerable amount out of the likes of Middlo (Neil Middleditch), Chris (Holder) and Davey (Watt) in particular. Darcy has a very special place in our hearts at this club and it is still very difficult to come to terms with exactly what is happening.“Anyone who watched the Grand Prix on Saturday will have seen just how tough the whole occasion was for Chris. He was emotionally wrecked but he felt that he needed to ride on as much for Darcy than anything else. I can't begin to contemplate what was going through his head out there. It is not going to be any easier when we re-group as a unit on Monday.”Leicester bring in Charles Wright to guest at reserve for Josh Auty in their final home fixture of the campaign, with the Lions still hopeful of moving off the bottom of the table.Manager Norrie Allan said: “I am mindful that time is running out for us and it is a tall order to lift ourselves off the bottom of the league table but not impossible as we are almost back to a full team now apart from Josh Auty. “Whilst it is still mathematically possible then we have to believe that we can do it.”Second-placed Coventry hand a seasonal debut to Kyle Howarth as they look to secure their play-off place with a home win over Lakeside - but the Bees will be without Joonas Kylmakorpi, who hurt his back in a crash in Denmark on Friday, and they will operate the rider-replacement facility.Bees boss Gary Havelock said: “Kyle been here before, he knows the club and was exceptional in the play-offs last year so if he can get anywhere near to a repeat of that sort of form it should hold us in pretty good stead.“Kyle knows everyone in the team, I’m sure having him in will lift some of the other riders and give us a new impetus, and as far as Monday night goes we just need to get ourselves back to winning ways.”Belle Vue are fourth in the table after completing their home programme on Sunday, but they know a win at Wolverhampton in their final fixture is also vital if they are to put serious pressure on the other contenders.The Aces are set to use rider-replacement for the injured Matej Zagar, whilst Wolves have Ashley Morris and James Wright coming in at reserve.Belle Vue skipper Scott Nicholls said: “We’ve still got a job to do to help maintain our place in the play-offs. All the boys are up for it and we won’t be satisfied unless we come away from (Monday) with four points.”Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “Obviously Belle Vue have to win to maintain their challenge for the play-offs which makes it an important meeting in the scheme of things.“We want to end with two home wins, we've had a very difficult season but with two meetings left against Belle Vue and Leicester we want to head into the winter on a high.”In the Premier League, Scunthorpe are preparing for a bumper 38-race schedule as the Scorpions host Sheffield in a local derby which is followed by the Midland Development League Riders’ Championship.Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “There's so much on offer this afternoon. It's the best value meeting of the year, with 38 heats for just £17 for adults, while all accompanied children under the age of 16 will be admitted free due to our offer which lasts to the end of the season.“There's also a chance to see our new signing Leigh Lanham's debut for the Scorpions; while Sheffield bring in a new face in Robin Aspegren and recall a club legend in Andre Compton.”Sheffield boss Jack Lee said: “We've guaranteed our play-off place now which is great, but we still want to win at Scunthorpe on Monday to make sure we keep our confidence up.“Every meeting is going to be vital in the play-offs and it's going to be a real challenge, so we want to go there in the best shape we can.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
KING’S Lynn have confirmed the re-arrangement of their home clash with Leicester will take place at the Adrian Flux Arena on Tuesday.The Stars have booked Chris Harris to guest for Niels-Kristian Iversen as the Dane is involved in the Swedish play-offs on the same evening.Stars boss Rob Lyon said: “I had confirmation on Sunday night that Leicester could come to us on Tuesday, it's not an ideal situation, but with time running out we need to get the fixture completed. “I hope many of our supporters can come and support the team in our crucial meeting at short notice.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SWINDON will welcome Lewis Rose back from injury at reserve as they travel to Coventry on Wednesday. Rose, 25, suffered a broken scaphoid and shoulder damage in a horrendous crash against Poole at the Abbey in July, but now regains his place from short-term stand-in Robert Branford.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It was quite a tough decision because Robert didn't do much wrong, he gave it his all and I'd like to thank him for his efforts. “I just felt Lewis might make us a bit stronger. It was always the plan for him to come back when he was fit again, and he's been patient with his injury and allowed it to fully heal.”
(FIXTURES)
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 OFF (Now Sat Sept 5), Rye House v Plymouth OFF, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 3pmKENT COUNTY FOUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent OFFMIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ FINAL: Scunthorpe (follows PL fixture)
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30
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
