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LEICESTER secured their first victory of the Elite League season in Wednesday’s televised encounter with Swindon at Beaumont Park.The Lions won 50-42 with Szymon Wozniak (11+1) and Patrick Hougaard (11) both in double figures as they bounced back from two home defeats so far.The Robins were left to rue a slow start to the meeting and missed out on a league point despite a 15-point haul from former Leicester man Jason Doyle.Lions boss Norrie Allan said: “It was a relief to finally get a win under our belts. For once we were not in chase mode and made a dream start to lead by ten points after five heats. “That made all the difference and our confidence and belief grew as the meeting progressed. The secret is now to build from here and to replicate the determination and application we showed against Swindon.”Swindon manager Alun Rossiter said: “It’s a disappointing result, but we never got going until heat 10 and I got quite vocal about it which I don’t normally do.“Putting it simply, we just couldn’t afford to give Leicester the start that we did. They outclassed us early on, and fair play to them.”Meanwhile King’s Lynn edged out Coventry 46-44 in a meeting marred by a Heat 14 pile-up which saw two riders injured.Stars skipper Rory Schlein was taken to hospital with shoulder damage and concussion, whilst the Bees’ Kacper Woryna suffered a wrist injury.Niels-Kristian Iversen top-scored for the home side with ten points, whilst Krzysztof Kasprzak raced to a 15-point maximum for the Bees, who picked up their first away league point of the season as a result.Iversen said: “It wasn’t really the best meeting for me personally, and the team didn’t manage to do what we maybe should have done.“It was enough to get the win though which was the main thing, and we were glad to get three more points.”Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: “I’m disappointed because it’s so close but so far. We got a point, which looking at our performances here over the last couple of years is about as good as we’ve done, but I felt they were there for the taking tonight.“KK was sensational. To come to King’s Lynn with Niels-Kristian Iversen in their team and score a 15-point maximum is pretty good going, and if we can keep him in this mindset there’s no reason why he can’t be the No.1 rider in the league.”King’s Lynn then opened their National League campaign with a huge 65-25 win over Stoke in the second half of the double-header at the Adrian Flux Arena.Reserve Ryan Kinsley secured a six-ride paid maximum (17+1) with Josh Bailey adding 17 and Nathan Greaves 12+1. Danny Phillips scored nine for the Potters, whose manager Malcolm Vasey was left unimpressed.Vasey said: “King’s Lynn are a very good team around their home track and I can see quite a few clubs running aground here, and they will also push teams away from home especially while they have a rider as good as Ryan Kinsley at reserve.“But I also have to say we were very poor as a team and the performance was unacceptable. We will now sit down and take stock of things and see where we go from here.”There was also a big win at Perry Barr as Birmingham defeated Buxton 66-24 to take full control of their National Trophy section.Tom Perry (15), Zach Wajtknecht (10+2) and Danyon Hume (10+2) were all unbeaten for the Brummies with Darryl Ritchings only missing out due to a last-bend engine failure in Heat 15, and the home side took all fifteen race wins.Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “I have to be honest and say I feel quite sorry for Buxton; they haven't even had a press and practice session due to the weather and their first task of the season was to come to one of the league favourites who are a side bang in form.“I can't explain how delighted I am with this team we've assembled and tonight's win was yet another big confidence boost for the busy upcoming schedule that we've got.”Buxton manager Jason Pipe said: “I would like to apologise to supporters for that performance, especially the travelling ones as we did notice the Buxton fans in the crowd. We seemed sleepy, slow out of the blocks and that was not acceptable.”

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SHEFFIELD are gearing up for a bumper night of action as they host the British Under-21 Final at Owlerton on Thursday.Britain’s brightest young stars will descend upon the South Yorkshire venue as they battle it out for national glory.Tigers star Josh Bates is expected to be amongst the front-runners as he aims to regain the crown he won in dramatic style at Monmore Green two years ago.World Cup star Robert Lambert and in-form Poole reserve Adam Ellis will also be amongst the favourites, plus former Sheffield mascot Max Clegg and local lad Jack Parkinson-Blackburn are sure to have plenty of home support.Bates said: “There are a few riders who are going to be tough to beat, Adam and Robert are always really fast and there are plenty of others who could do well on the day as well.“I’m going pretty well around Owlerton at the minute so I’d like to think I can have a good chance around my home track.”

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SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter is calling on his riders to show a positive reaction when they face Wolverhampton at the Abbey tonight in the Elite League.Rossiter was disappointed to see his side miss out on a point at Leicester last night in front of the Sky Sports cameras – but he’s refusing to press the panic button.He said: “I had a word with the boys last night, they know we weren’t good enough and we have to look to go again against Wolverhampton.“It will be a tough meeting, they have a new-look side and they already have a good win at Coventry under their belt.“But from our own point of view, I want to see a positive reaction from my riders.”Wolves bring in Ashley Morris to replace Max Clegg at reserve as the latter is involved in the British Under-21 Final, and they also track former Swindon man Kyle Howarth.Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “It's vital that we continue to pick up points away from home, and the meeting at Swindon is another chance for us to get some more points on the board."I think you have to go into every away meeting aiming to win but at the very least get a point, and our attitude is no different this week.”In the League Cup, Ipswich are back on home territory for the first time since their season-opener nearly a month ago, and are still looking for their first win of the season.Opponents Peterborough secured a big away win at Scunthorpe last weekend, and another away success would boost their chances of overhauling Sheffield at the top of the group.Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I think everyone is short of a little bit of confidence at the moment but it's very early stages. I think we're having a little bit of a rebuilding process with the team this year and everyone's got to be given time to settle down. “We've got to win if we want any chance of progressing. I'm looking for more improvements from every rider and a much better performance and I expect us to go and get a win.”Panthers caretaker boss Dale Allitt said: “When it became known I could no longer co-manage at Peterborough, I always said I would help the club out if needed. That's exactly what I'm doing now, but not in the circumstances I would have wanted.“It makes sense for me to step in to fill the void for the four meetings we have coming up as I had a big input in putting the team together over the winter and on deciding the riding order. “We will go to Ipswich with the intention of picking up another result. Realistically we need to go there and win, and I believe that is possible.”Redcar welcome back Jonas B Andersen from a spell on the sidelines with concussion and also have Lasse Bjerre back to full health for their League Cup clash with Workington at the Media Prime Arena.Bears boss Jitendra Duffill said: “Workington demonstrated their strength on Saturday and have riders that like our circuit so they will fancy their chances on Thursday. We need to up our game considerably if we want to win and we need everybody to contribute and find some consistency. “Both Lasse and Jonas are over recent illness and injury so we will be at full strength. This really is a big test for us and I'd like everybody to demonstrate just what they are capable of. It is vital that we win meetings at home so we must do everything we can on Thursday to make that happen.”Meanwhile the Isle of Wight continue their return to the sport with a four-team tournament at the Smallbrook Stadium.The Select teams will see the Warriors take on quartets representing Exeter, Weymouth and Southampton, with the home riders distributed amongst the teams according to historical associations.

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FORMER Scunthorpe star David Howe has rejoined the club in a coaching role.Howe rode for the Scorpions in seven seasons between 2009-15, before a troublesome shoulder injury caused his retirement from racing, but he has attended the club’s last two home matches and has already been assisting in the pits.Howe said: “I fully admit that I don’t think I was that good a captain when I was riding, because I was so wrapped up in my own meeting. That’s the problem when you’re riding. I’m now in a situation where I can sit back and see what’s going on.“I’ve got commitments with my truck driving job, but the plan is I’ll be down the pits for home meetings at Scunthorpe whenever possible. I still consider Scunthorpe as my club, and I want to see them winning. If my input can make that small difference which means a rider is winning races rather than losing them, then that’s great.”

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MILDENHALL’S Luke Ruddick faces a month on the sidelines after suffering a broken bone in his arm in last weekend’s National Trophy match against Kent.Ruddick is to be replaced in Sunday’s clash with the Isle of Wight by Adam Sheppard whilst Connor Mountain hopes to be back in action despite knee problems.Ruddick said: “I am disappointed with my performance on Sunday and the resulting injury, I guess I was trying too hard to score points and now will have to miss a few meetings. I have broken the radius bone in my arm and am now in plaster. “But I am determined to come back stronger and repay the faith the promotion and the incredible supporters here have in me. My bike was badly damaged on Sunday which was a worry, but the amazing response to the crowd funding for Connor and me has knocked me over.”

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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

FRIDAY APRIL 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Rye House 7.15TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 7.30

SATURDAY APRIL 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Peterborough 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry OFF, Eastbourne v Kent 7.30

SUNDAY APRIL 17:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3.30CHRISTIAN HENRY TESTIMONIAL: Newcastle 3pm