(SPEEDWAY 1 - MONDAY PREVIEW)
BELLE Vue No.1 Matej Zagar has been ruled out of Monday’s Elite League play-off semi-final clash with Swindon.The Aces stage the first leg at Kirkmanshule Lane but Zagar is still struggling with internal bleeding suffered in a crash at Gorzow last month. Swedish star Andreas Jonsson has been booked to guest against the Robins.Belle Vue chief Chris Morton said: “Medical advice stated that Matej should rest for a least a month but Matej made the decision to ride in his home Grand Prix in Slovenia at weekend, even though it was likely to aggravate the problem.“It was very clear after his last ride that he was in significant discomfort due to his injuries and has been advised by doctors that he must rest, something with which the club concurs.”Aces manager Mark Lemon said: “It's going to be a tough match and a very intense environment, and I fully expect the boys to step up their game because this is the business end of the season they've worked all year for.“This is a play off situation and we expect Swindon to come here all guns blazing. They've been on a roll lately so we've got to make our form at home really count, but we know it won't be easy.”Swindon are at full strength for the trip to Manchester and boss Alun Rossiter is eyeing up a victory on the night ahead of next Monday’s return at the Abbey Stadium.Rossiter said: “Of course it's important to make sure we keep it close for the second leg, but we aren't going there just trying to keep it close."We want to come away with a win on the night, that's what we are aiming for and with how we've been riding recently I don't see why we can't do that. “Hopefully all the boys will be fired up and we can be at our best to come away with a good result.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SUNDAY REVIEW)
EDINBURGH are through to the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup Final after defending their first-leg lead at Newcastle.The Monarchs took a 22-point advantage to Brough Park and held on for aggregate success despite a 53-37 Diamonds win on the night.Steve Worrall scored a 15-point maximum for the home side and brother Richie, who was guesting, added 13+1, whilst Justin Sedgmen top-scored for the visitors with 10.Newcastle boss George English said: “We continued our excellent home form against a strong side. It was a great effort by the whole team to win so comfortably and once again Steve Worrall was fantastic.“We always knew that the fall from Matt Wethers at Edinburgh would prove crucial because he would have at least scored five points up there which would have meant we would be through.”Edinburgh chief Alex Harkess said: “It was a very tough tie and Newcastle pushed us all the way, but I always felt we were going to do it.”In the Premier League, Glasgow secured third place with a 42-20 win over a heavily depleted Rye House team at Ashfield in a meeting curtailed after Heat 10 due to heavy rain.Richard Lawson and Aaron Summers were both unbeaten for the Tigers, and boss Stewart Dickson said: “Edward Kennett, who I get on really well with, came up and apologised for the team he had brought up - because I think he represents them really well. I said to him that we've all been there. “To finish third out of 13, I think, is pretty decent and we've put ourselves right in the mix of where we want to be.”Rockets boss John Sampford said: “We tried to get guests after Saturday night’s meeting as we started the journey up, and then again on Sunday morning, but everyone we contacted was simply unable to do the meeting or had commitments elsewhere.“Under the circumstances, we are just glad that we managed to honour the fixture and that there was a conclusive result.”Meanwhile Peterborough’s two latest signings starred as they completed the Premier League regular season with a bang by defeating Scunthorpe 54-36 at the East of England Showground.Ben Barker spearheaded a fine performance with a paid maximum and fellow recent recruit Anders Thomsen piled up paid 14 as the Panthers stormed to victory.Joint-boss Carl Johnson said: “A result and performance like this is just what we wanted to end the regular season and kick ourselves on into the play-offs.“We’ve started slowly in a few home meetings and had to turn them around. That happened again today, but we got on top quickly and went on to record a convincing win.”Scunthorpe manager Dave Peet said: “It was far from a one-sided meeting, and we rode better than the final scoreline suggests. The Panthers are a good side, but we showed plenty of fighting spirit and made them work for their win.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Rye House are heading into the Gold Cup thanks to a point gained from a narrow 44-46 defeat at Mildenhall.Dan Halsey won a thrilling Heat 15 for the Fen Tigers against Kyle Hughes to secure a home win having led by two points going into the last race.The Raiders are fourth in the table ahead of Coventry on points difference as of the cut-off date, after the Storm defeated Cradley 48-44 at Brandon.The home side gave a solid display led by Darryl Ritchings on 11 and took victory despite two late 5-1s from Heathens guest Ben Morley and captain Matt Williamson to secure a point.Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “That was a convincing win and a great all-round team performance. The boys all dug in, and it was more convincing than the final score suggests.“When the side was put together at the start of the year we weren’t given a chance, but I knew it was a side which would grow, and they’ve all improved their averages, they have great spirit and they’re a lovely bunch of lads.”Injuries and mechanical issues saw Cradley then reduced to four riders early in their second fixture of the day at Stoke - but they still pulled off a remarkable 40-35 win in a match curtailed two races early due to a power failure.Williamson, after scoring 16+1 at Brandon, added 12+2 at Loomer Road, with Morley (11) and Arron Mogridge (10+2) also in double figures. Ellis Perks and Tyler Govier had picked up injuries earlier in the day, and Michael Neale pulled out due to lack of equipment.Boss Will Pottinger said: “Considering we were practically a four-man team for the whole meeting it was an incredible effort to get the win, and all the lads deserve a lot of credit."We had to dig really deep for that win, and it's a fantastic effort given we had to send only one rider out in five races.”Eastbourne maintained their good form over the weekend with a 50-40 win at Buxton to consolidate second place in the table.No.1 Bradley Wilson-Dean hit a paid maximum with Ben Hopwood’s 12 points from five rides only marred by an exclusion from his first race.Eagles boss Glenn Martin said: “The boys have been on fire this weekend. That’s three fabulous performances in two days.“We are really keyed up for next weekend’s home and away clashes with Rye House to decide the destiny of the National Trophy.”Buxton manager Jason Pipe said: “I think we have seen the Gold-Cup winners here today. To me they were the best of the qualifiers and we have ridden against all of them recently. “I thought the meeting swung in Heat 8 - up until then we were holding our own, the loss of Liam (Carr) was a blow and they finished well with three maximums in the last four heats. It was almost identical to the way it went in the fixture at their place.”(FIXTURES)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14:ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS S/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Coventry v Poole OFF (Now Fri Sept 18)SILVER SKI HOLIDAYS CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent OFF
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16:GOLD CUP S/F 1st leg: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Sheffield v Peterborough 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18:ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Coventry v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30
