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SAM Masters scored a paid maximum on his home debut as Wolverhampton overcame Lakeside 54-38 at Monmore Green.Masters collected 13+2 as the home side maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with 12 of the 15 heat winners on the night.Wolves started with three 5-1s in the first four races and finished with three out of three to repel a mid-meeting Hammers fightback.Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “It was a really entertaining meeting overall and credit to Lakeside for pushing us hard at times.“Things got a little bit nervy mid-meeting as they clawed it back to four-points but a super strong start and finish saw us over the line.“We showed once again we have plenty of strength in depth and our riders deserved that result in the end.”Lakeside coach Kelvin Tatum said: “After a really disappointing start we got ourselves right back into the meeting and for me that's what makes losing by as many points as we did that extra bit frustrating.“We gave ourselves a lifeline by staying resilient mid-meeting and the 5-1 in heat 12 really gave us some optimism.“Unfortunately we threw it away thereafter and while I can't fault any of the team's efforts, I am a little bit disappointed with the end result.”
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BRITISH Speedway vice-chairman Rob Godfrey is delighted to see Plymouth back on track as he prepares to host the Devils on Sunday.The Scunthorpe promoter, though, knows it will now all be about club business when both teams commence their Premier League campaigns.Godfrey said: “I’m delighted that Plymouth were saved from closure. No-one ever wants to see a speedway track close, and there’s no doubting the passion of the supporters down in Devon.“But we can’t afford to be charitable on Sunday. The League Cup did end up being a bit of a disappointment for us, but everyone starts afresh again in the Premier League.”
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PETERBOROUGH reserve Emil Grondal was thrilled by his return to top form.The former World Under 21 finalist piled up a terrific 12+2 as the Panthers launched their Premier League challenge with a 48-42 triumph at Rye House last Saturday night – on the same circuit where he scored paid-16 last year.Grondal said: “For some reason I just love that place. I had a really good night there last year and I just went for a similar set-up again.“Thankfully it worked really well and it was great to be able to show my fellow riders, the management and the fans what I'm capable of doing after a couple of poor meetings.“The boys helped me move forward again and the spirit in our team is just brilliant.”
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IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins hopes track knowledge of Sheffield will help keep the Witches in the League Cup on Thursday.The Witches visit Owlerton in a crunch fixture and Hawkins believes his team are well set-up to make an impression.He said: “Sheffield have got to win to guarantee that they are going through and obviously we need to stop that from happening to keep in the competition. It will be interesting to see how we go there at another track and see how we get on.“Nico (Covatti) and Paco (Castagna) have both come from Sheffield and I know Danny (King) loves the place so our team could do well there. “We know what we need to do, a draw would be OK but if they win we are out and they are through, so we know what we need to do to progress.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 21:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Peterborough 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Kent 7pm
FRIDAY APRIL 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Poole 7.30, Lakeside v Swindon 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30
