(SPEEDWAY 1 - FRIDAY REVIEW)
PLYMOUTH suffered a blow in their bid to reach the Premier League play-offs when they were defeated 53-40 at Scunthorpe on Friday.The Devils led by eight points in the early stages but were then hit by a run of six successive 5-1s by the Scorpions, which leaves them still three league points adrift of Ipswich with one match remaining.Carl Wilkinson top scored for the home side with 13+1, whilst Ryan Fisher picked up 13 for the Devils.Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “I wish the season was just starting. A few weeks ago I couldn't wait for it to finish, but since then, we've won five on the bounce at home.“It was awesome when we registered six 5-1s on the trot, especially against a team as strong as Plymouth. The Devils were under a bit of pressure to get a result and they just fell apart; we were just too solid and strong for them.”Somerset established a commanding position in their Travel Plus Tours KO Cup semi-final against Rye House, with a 60-30 win over the Rockets at the Oaktree Arena.The Rebels provided all but two of the race wins with Josh Grajczonek leading the way on 14 points and Paul Starke, Richie Worrall and Brady Kurtz also in double figures. Recent signing Robert Lambert scored 11 for the Rockets.Grajczonek said: “All the boys were really on it tonight. We knew what we wanted to do and everything worked out to perfection, it was an awesome performance by the whole team.”Rye House co-promoter Len Silver said: “We were beaten by the better side; it’s as simple as that. They were faster out of the gate – and once away from the tapes they were gone.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Coventry closed in on the top four with a 52-41 win over Buxton - but were then frustrated by the weather.Guest Dan Halsey scored a 12-point maximum against the Hitmen, and the Storm then appeared on their way to overhauling fourth-placed Rye House as they led the Raiders 32-19 after eight races - before rain forced an early abandonment.Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “The riders had to use their heads in the conditions, as we saw with Martin Knuckey and Rob Shuttleworth, and I do think we could have got those races done so I’m livid.”Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “I’ve told the boys how important it is to keep it tight early in the meeting but we were caught cold. That said, it was a fighting performance and scoring 40-plus points away from home is no mean feat. We matched Coventry point for point from Heat 5.”Meanwhile King’s Lynn were 49-43 winners over Kent at the Adrian Flux Arena, with the visitors recovering from 14-points down on the night to snatch a league point thanks to a last-heat 5-1 from James Shanes and Ben Morley.
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SATURDAY PREVIEW)
THE sixth and final Premier League play-off qualification place will be resolved at Rye House on Saturday.The Rockets host Plymouth in the first half of a double header starting at 6pm, and the visitors need a win by seven or more points on the night in order to overhaul Ipswich.In the second event of the night, the home side face a major uphill task as they trail Somerset by 30 points in the second leg of their Travel Plus Tours KO Cup semi-final.Rockets boss John Sampford said: “They will be too very tough matches. Plymouth need to take four points to make the play-offs, and Somerset will be trying to complete a double and reach the Cup Final.“It’s down to us to re-group, and get the best results possible in order restore some pride.”Somerset star Josh Grajczonek said: “Nothing is won yet and we are just at the halfway stage of the tie, but we’ll be going to Rye House with the aim of not necessarily defending our 30-point lead, but instead to treat it like a league match and look for the meeting win.“The main thing is to avoid those last places and hopefully it’ll be a job well done.”Workington complete their season with a home league fixture against table-topping Edinburgh at Derwent Park; with the Monarchs, who contain two West Cumbrian-born riders in their side tonight, looking to be the first visiting team to win there this year.Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: “This final fixture is sure to pose the biggest threat to our unbeaten home record and, with former Comet Craig Cook leading their very solid side it promises to be a very tough match in prospect. “But the lads are all determined to hang on to their home record and can draw inspiration from last week’s victory over Glasgow in what was probably the best match seen here this season. The Monarchs have also brought in Buxton’s locally-based Ryan Blacklock as a guest at reserve and he is keen to show what he can do, so everyone has something to race for tonight.”Eastbourne stage a double-header at Arlington with Mildenhall providing the opposition in both meetings - firstly in the City Gearboxes National League, and then in the National Trophy.The home side will be at full strength with newcomer Daniel Spiller moving into the top five, with Richie Andrews dropping down to partner Kelsey Dugard in the reserve positionsEagles boss Glenn Martin said: “Daniel has made an instant impact since his arrival last month and it is no surprise he has upped his average. He will slot in at number four, allowing Georgie Wood to take the number two slot.”Meanwhile there is major national silverware on the line as the Perryman’s British Under-19 Final takes place at Berwick, in the final meeting of the season at Shielfield Park.The favourites include Max Clegg and former British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates, whilst home hopes will be with Berwick asset Liam Carr.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
PETERBOROUGH captain Ulrich Ostergaard will play no further part in the Panthers’ challenge for Premier League title glory.The Danish ace has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his left foot in a crash at Redcar in the South Tees Silver Helmet on Thursday.Panthers promoter Ged Rathbone admitted: “Ulrich is absolutely gutted to have been ruled out for the rest of the season. He was desperate to lead the team to the title after winning the Premier League Riders’ Championship last weekend.“It is yet another massive injury blow that we have to deal with. We have been overcoming problems all season to get ourselves into the play-offs and we are not going to let this stop us having a real go at winning the title.”(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12:BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Berwick 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Plymouth 6pm, Workington v Edinburgh 7pmTRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Rye House v Somerset (follows PL fixture)CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Mildenhall 6pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Eastbourne v Mildenhall (follows previous meeting)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Rye House 3pm, Peterborough v Scunthorpe 3pmTRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Eastbourne 3pm, Coventry v Cradley 12pm, Mildenhall v Rye House 3.30, Stoke v Cradley 6pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14:ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS S/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Coventry v Poole 7.30SILVER SKI HOLIDAYS CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent 6.30
