(SPEEDWAY 1 - MONDAY REVIEW)
BELLE Vue have booked the fourth and final Elite League play-off spot courtesy of a thumping 57-36 away win at Wolverhampton.The Aces join Poole, Coventry and Swindon in the top four leaving King’s Lynn out of contention ahead of their final home fixture this week.Draft reserve Steve Worrall scored a stunning 15-point maximum at Monmore, whilst Chris Harris was also unbeaten with 13+2 as he stepped in for Matej Zagar to help his old club to their first play-off qualification in a decade.Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It's unreal, it's amazing. The boys worked so hard in the build-up to this meeting and the spirit tonight was just fantastic. I actually had to calm them down they were so pumped up!"It was brilliant to see so many Belle Vue fans turn out to support us here too. They've been loyal to this club and certainly patient, and I'm happy they got to witness such a great effort by the guys.”Leicester were also celebrating at Monmore as a last-heat 4-2 from Jason Doyle and Szymon Wozniak clinched a 46-44 away win to take the Lions off the foot of the Elite League table.Doyle scored a paid maximum for the visitors, who have now won twice on the road in the space of a week - after going nearly two years without an away victory!Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “After losing at home to Poole on Thursday it made our task doubly difficult to finish the season above bottom place in the league, but whilst there were points on the table to be raced for we maintained a belief that we could do it. “It may be only a small success in the whole scheme of things, but when you have endured a season like we have had with injuries and resignations then it is satisfying to finish on a positive note by escaping the basement position.”Wolves skipper Peter Karlsson said: “We wanted to win both of these meetings to finish on a high, but again we just weren't good enough and I guess that sums the season up.“It wasn't a good night for us and it meant we lost a place in the table as well which is really disappointing. It's been a bad season for us all-around, but we've just got to start looking ahead to next season now I guess.”In the night’s other Elite League fixture, Poole and Swindon shared the spoils with a 45-45 draw at Wimborne Road.It was an emotional occasion for all concerned with an address to the crowd from Darcy Ward’s father George on the first meeting of Ward’s parent club and the team he joined this season, since his serious accident in Poland last month.The Robins trailed by four points with two heats to go but finished with two 4-2s, with top-scorer Peter Kildemand (10) winning Heat 15 ahead of Pirates skipper Maciej Janowski (13+1) who was beaten for the first time on the night, with Grzegorz Zengota passing Chris Holder for third.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “Darcy is a Poole legend and a hero to Swindon fans. His Dad, George, took to the microphone and was brilliant, then everyone in the stadium chanted Darcy's name. It was a bit emotional."But we had a job to do and we are looking forward to the play-offs. Nick Morris looked much better and that was good to see, Darcy's his best mate, and if we have to come back here in the play-offs we know what we can do."Poole star Davey Watt said: “(It was) probably the best result for Darcy but for us, it hurt.”In the Premier League, Peterborough returned to winning ways with a convincing 52-41 success at Rye House.A powerful all-round Panthers display was spearheaded by reserve Emil Grondal with a bumper 15+1 haul on his first visit to Hoddesdon, whilst fellow recent recruits Anders Thomsen (11+2) and Ben Barker (10) were also in double figures.Edward Kennett was left on his own at the top of the Rockets’ scorechart with 17, denied a five-ride maximum by Barker in the finale.Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “Emil’s efforts were nothing short of outstanding. To top-score from reserve when seeing a track for the first time is fantastic.“It certainly wasn’t a one-man show though. This was a fine team effort up there with our best performances of the season – and it certainly ranks as one of the most important results as well. We really needed to win tonight after being so disappointing lately.”Rye House boss John Sampford said: “We knew it was going to be very tough beforehand against a strong, top six, side. “We weren’t helped by losing Luke (Bowen) and Danny (Maassen) to injury, and Rider-Replacement at the bottom end of the team contributed only one point, whereas Emil Grondal virtually won them the match on his own with 15 points.”There was better news for Rye House’s National League team, as the Raiders stormed to 49-40 win over Kent to go clear in fourth position in the table.Ben Morley scored a 15-point maximum for the Kings, but the visitors still carded eight race victories with Kyle Hughes leading the way on 12.Kent boss Chris Hunt said: “It’s clear we are now perilously close, we accept, to the possibility of finishing bottom of the table – and with one of the best top fours in any side as our performances in the National Fours and Pairs showed, the league position we find ourselves in is because our lower graded riders have not made the same improvement as some others in our rivals’ squads.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BERWICK have confirmed some sponsorship packages remain available for the Perryman’s British Under-19 Final at Shielfield Park on Saturday.The meeting closes the season at the Border venue with the club facing an uncertain future as their 2016 plans are as yet unclear.Co-promoter Ryan Anderson said: “The 'shopping list' is now down to just 10 x rider sponsors at £60 and 11 x tyre/fuel/oil sponsors at £40. All the other sponsorships have been taken up, it’s just these ones to go!“All 22 races have been snapped up, as have a number of rider and equipment backers. If you can help us, please contact Malcolm Leighton on malcolm.leighton2@virgin.net or 07899 724686.”One change to the line-up for the meeting sees Cradley’s Michael Neale ruled out due to injury, so Ben Basford of Kent is promoted into the main field with Edinburgh youngster Lewis Millar taking a reserve spot.(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 7.30, King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Rye House 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.15TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11:PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Plymouth 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Somerset v Rye House 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Buxton 7pm, Coventry v Rye House (follows previous fixture), King’s Lynn v Kent 7.30
