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JOSH Auty raced to a 15-point maximum as Scunthorpe overcame Premier League leaders Glasgow 51-39 at the Eddie Wright Raceway.The Scorpions’ impressive win did come at a cost as Alex Davies suffered two fractured vertebrae in a Heat 9 crash.Auty was well backed up in a solid team show as the home side upset the league table, with reserve Michael Palm Toft piling up 11+3, whilst Richie Worrall top-scored for the Tigers on 10+1.Auty said: “It just seems to have clicked for us. I think this is an even better result for us than the victory over Ipswich last weekend, because Glasgow are super-strong and are currently top of the league for a reason.“If we can continue winning, who knows what can happen? We’re just trying to do our best; it was another tremendous performance from the boys.”Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “If we haven't realised already, we need to realise that when we go to these places, these teams are gunning for us. We're classed as favourites and we are big scalps, and unfortunately this is what we're getting.“They built it up as the biggest meeting of the season and they raced as if it was the biggest of the season. I'm not going to single out or mention individual riders but I think you can look at the score chart and it tells its own story.”
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COVENTRY and King’s Lynn clash at Brandon in Monday’s televised Elite League fixture.The home promotion have cut adult admission charges to £10 for the encounter, which comes less than three weeks after the Bees grabbed an impressive 49-41 away win in Norfolk.But there have been team changes since then as Rory Schlein makes his return from injury for the Stars, whilst Kyle Howarth guests for the injured Simon Lambert.Coventry hand a first appearance of the season to Ben Barker in a squad position, with Jason Garrity still on the sidelines.Bees boss Gary Havelock said: “It’s another big meeting for us, and I really feel we’re going to have to win all of our home matches now, and probably pick up two or three more away wins. It’s down to the boys now, they know what we need do.“I’ve spoken to Ben, who’s been desperate for a chance. He had been struggling with his engines, but he’s just had two back from his tuner in Germany. He’s fully confident that he can do the job for us.”“We’ve got three big meetings, and I think all three are very important for us. It’s a big meeting for both clubs in terms of the play-off places, and we are looking to get a result there.“We have to go there with a positive frame of mind and believe we can get something which we can then build on against Leicester on Thursday.”Meanwhile Scunthorpe take a 50-40 lead to Newcastle in the second leg of their Knockout Cup tie.The Scorpions will be without Alex Davies at Brough Park following his crash yesterday, and they will operate the rider-replacement facility.Scunthorpe skipper Josh Auty said: “We know Newcastle is going to be tough. We’ve proved we can beat anyone around Scunthorpe – now the challenge for the whole team, including myself, is whether we can put together that level of performance away from home.“If we can, there’s no reason why we can’t come from Newcastle with the result that we need.”
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CRADLEY can move within a point of the top of the National League table with a win against Mildenhall at Monmore Green on Monday.The Heathens got their season back on track with a hard-fought away win at Rye House last weekend, and now return to home action against the Fen Tigers.Cradley will be without Ben Basford after his crash in their recent challenge match at Sheffield. Following his move to reserve under the latest set of averages, Bradley Andrews steps in to fill his spot whilst rider replacement covers for James Purchase at No.2.Boss Will Pottinger said: “The win at Hoddesdon should, naturally, give everyone that little bit of extra belief. Whilst we’re not the finished article by any means, there’s improvement being shown and this team should only get better.“Mildenhall have got a good team with riders who are capable of winning races, so we’ll need to be fully focused if we want to continue our good home form and get another three league points.”Meanwhile Kent have booked Eastbourne’s Georgie Wood to guest for the injured Luke Bowen in their home clash with Rye House at Central Park.David Mason returns for the Kings after two matches out with broken ribs, but Luke Clifton remains on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.
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PETERBOROUGH are closing in on the capture of British talent Ashley Morris.The Panthers have agreed a short-term deal with the Midlands man to replace the injured Simon Lambert, and the move awaits the ratification of the BSPA management committee.Promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We didn’t feel we could go down the rider replacement route for that length of time as it would place too much of a burden on the bottom end of the team.“And Ashley jumped at the chance to come on board. He is keen to test himself in the Premier League again and this short-term move will certainly put him in the shop window.”The Panthers will be without reserve Zdenek Holub this week as, like Lambert, he has suffered a broken hand – although this injury looks to be less serious than that of his team-mate.
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY JULY 11:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Mildenhall 7.30, Kent v Rye House 6.30
TUESDAY JULY 12:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Scunthorpe 7.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 13:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 14:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Berwick 7.30, Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30, Sheffield v Plymouth 7.30PAIRS: Isle of Wight 7pm
