(SPEEDWAY 1 - FRIDAY PREVIEW)
EDINBURGH and Peterborough race for a place in the Premier League Grand Final at Armadale on Friday.The Monarchs, who are the reigning champions, go into their home leg of the semi-final facing a narrow two-point deficit from last weekend’s opener at the Showground.The Panthers won at Armadale during the regular league campaign and continue to use Ipswich’s Rohan Tungate as a guest for injured No.1 Ulrich Ostergaard, whilst the home side are expected to have Kevin Wolbert back from a spell on the sidelines.Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone said: “It has been one hell of a season regardless of the result tonight, but we don’t want our journey to end. We are 15 races away from the Grand Final and we know the size of the task ahead of us, but we have already proven this season that we are capable of going well at Edinburgh.“They will be well aware of that as well. Nothing has changed since the first leg in that Edinburgh will still be hot favourites and all the pressure will still be on them.“But we are certainly going up there to roll over. Our boys could not be more determined and I know they will fight for every lap of every race.”Meanwhile Somerset stage the first leg of their semi-final tie with Glasgow at the Oaktree Arena, as they look to make progress towards the Final for the fourth successive season.The Rebels did the double over the Tigers in the league stage of the campaign, winning 58-32 at home - but boss Garry May says that counts for nothing on Friday.He said: “Of course you tend to look at those matches as a bit of a form guide, but, in truth, those matches are long since done and dusted. We start all-square and so we’ll be looking for a good first leg lead, though as we proved in our KO Cup Final against Edinburgh, the boys are just a capable of defending a relatively narrow lead if that should be the case.“We have been in each of the three Play-Off Finals held since the current system was first brought in, and we are very determined to make it four in a row, though I am sure that Glasgow will have something to say about that.”Glasgow No.1 Richard Lawson said: “I’m feeling good for it. The team is really coming together well and it’s nice to have seven riders going into such an important fixture.“I’m confident and all the boys are going well. I expect good things for the weekend.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE manager Neil Middleditch has revealed the Darcy Ward Benefit Fund has been boosted by £48,000 due to admission monies alone from Wednesday’s meeting at Wimborne Road.That total is set to rise still further when various sponsorships are received along with the proceeds from the post-meeting auction.Middleditch said: “We have already been able to bank a staggering amount into the fund’s account and I can’t thank the supporters enough.“Everyone who was there will not have failed to have been touched by the emotion of the evening and I can't begin to tell you how touched I was personally by the whole occasion. Darcy is so close to me and (wife) Suzi and the last six weeks have been extremely tough. “Seeing so many people come united in the one cause was heart-wrenching and how Darcy himself got through the evening and even managed to speak to the crowd is still beyond me. I think that just shows the strength of the kid and he will need plenty of that in the days and weeks ahead.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BERWICK promoter John Anderson says the club’s appeal for additional backing looks set to be successful.The Bandits raised serious questions over their involvement in the sport for next year, but Anderson now says the prospects are far more encouraging.He said: “On behalf of the company currently promoting speedway here, I am pleased to announce that, with the backing of members of the general community of Berwick-on-Tweed and the surrounding area, who have come together to support the our Bandits in their hour of need, we can say there is now every intention to take the speedway club forward into a second half-century of existence.“I’ve been overawed by the support of the local community. I don't want to say too much just now, but if all goes well when the sport’s set-up for next season is decided at this month’s AGM I believe we can say it should be ‘all systems go’ for next year and beyond.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 9:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Peterborough 7.30; 1st leg: Somerset v Glasgow 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10:GOLD CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30PAIR OF ACES: Rye House 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Glasgow v Somerset 3pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 3pmABBEY FAREWELL: Swindon 4pm (including British 150cc Championship)
