(SPEEDWAY 1)
PETERBOROUGH put their League Cup challenge back on track with a power-packed away performance at Scunthorpe on Sunday.Four riders – top-scorer Nicklas Porsing, impressive reserve Tom Perry, captain Ulrich Ostergaard and the in-form Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen – all hit double-figures in the Panthers’ emphatic 57-36 triumph.The visitors provided twelve heat winners and nine race advantages with the only real Scorpions’ resistance coming from Ryan Douglas who totalled 14+1.Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “We got on top of Scunthorpe in the early stages of the meeting and never let them get back into it.“We were aware of the fact they hadn’t won either of their two previous home meetings, but the main focus was on doing our jobs properly.“We knew we could come and get the victory providing we produced the sort of performance we feel we’re capable of delivering and the four points put us right back in touch with Sheffield in the table.”Douglas said: “The team seem to be struggling at the moment - I’m not entirely sure why it is. We’re just not all clicking at the moment and we need to work on it.“I’m really happy how things have gone for me in the opening six meetings. It’s been a good, consistent start, and I’ve been scoring points every meeting. But I feel there’s more to come from me this year. It’s a case of keeping working away and trying to improve every time I come out.”In the National Trophy, Kent kept their good start to the season going with a 48-42 win over injury-hit Mildenhall at West Row.The Fen Tigers lost Connor Mountain after a first-ride spill with Danny Ayres, whilst reserve Luke Ruddick was also withdrawn later in the meeting.Danny Halsey (13) and Jon Armstrong (12+2) kept the home side in touch, whilst James Shanes top-scored with 11 for a solid Kings side.Mildenhall promoter Kevin Jolly said: “It was always going to be difficult against a good Kent side, but down to five riders we really could not have done much more.“I have no doubt if we had not lost Connor we would have won. Hopefully the news on Connor and Luke in the morning will be positive and we can regroup ready for the Isle of Wight next Sunday.”Kent boss Chris Hunt said: “We knew it was going to be a tough match and that they were likely to prepare a track with plenty of dirt on it. “As it happened the conditions, not helped obviously by the outside factors of the Monster Trucks being on there the night before, were actually to cost the home side more than us. They were certainly challenging conditions and we’re happy to win and to move on.”Newcastle clinched the Tyne/Tweed Trophy with a 56-34 win over Berwick at Brough Park, giving the Diamonds a 12-point overall aggregate success.Robert Lambert scored a paid maximum for the second time in two days, whilst Lewis Rose starred at reserve for the home side with 12+2. Theo Pijper led the Bandits’ scoring with 8+1.Newcastle boss George English said: “It was a brilliant result considering we were missing Tero Aarnio and it is important that we get him back as quick as possible.“Lambert has had a sensational few days with a good performance at Berwick yesterday with some superb team riding once again tonight.”Meanwhile Glasgow staged the first round of the British Youth Championships with wins on the day going to Kyle Bickley (500cc), Leon Flint (250cc), Nathan Ablitt (150cc) and Dan Thompson (125cc).(SPEEDWAY 2)
COVENTRY are desperate to get back to winning ways when they host King’s Lynn at Brandon in the Elite League on Monday.The Bees are looking for a positive reaction after defeats to Swindon and Wolverhampton prior to a week off, and now want to put points on the board against the Stars.But the visitors, too, have a point to prove after a heavy home defeat to Belle Vue in their last outing, so the two meetings between the clubs this week could prove important.Bees boss Gary Havelock said: “They will come here seeing that we’ve lost a couple of home matches, albeit one in the Shield, so they’ll think they can get something and we have to be on our mettle. “I spoke to some of the boys last week, and they’ll all be made aware in no uncertain terms of what we need, although I’m sure they already know it.“Riders don’t like getting beaten, especially at home, and we as a club will certainly be hoping for a reaction to that on Monday.”Stars promoter Keith Chapman said: “We’ll try and take something from the fact that they lost last time out to Wolverhampton but it’s all about our team focusing on what they do really.“If we turn up with our right heads on and everyone does their job, especially at the top end of the team, then I think we’re more than capable of getting what would be a much needed win.“We normally run Coventry pretty close at their place and some of the members in our team tend to go really well at Brandon too.”The National League clash between Cradley and Rye House has been postponed, and swiftly re-arranged for tomorrow (Tuesday) at Monmore Green.
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY APRIL 11:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v King’s Lynn 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Rye House OFF (Now Tues April 12)
TUESDAY APRIL 12:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Rye House 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 13:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30, Leicester v Swindon 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Stoke (follows EL fixture)NATIONAL TROPHY: Birmingham v Buxton 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 14:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Sheffield 7.30ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30FOUR TEAM TOURNAMENT: Isle of Wight v Exeter v Weymouth v Southampton 7pm
