(SPEEDWAY 1)
PREMIER League leaders Glasgow racked up a massive 58-31 away win at Berwick on Wednesday to go four points clear at the top.Rene Bach scored a paid maximum from five rides for the rampant Tigers, with Richie Worrall unbeaten from four rides and Richard Lawson adding 13 points.The home side were limited to just two race wins, although there was a mid-meeting setback for the visitors when reserve Danny Ayres crashed out, suffering concussion.Worrall said: “Berwick have a strong side when they're all firing. I don't know what happened to them tonight - but I think Glasgow as a team, it was the first time I felt we all came together as one.“Some guys were having problems with their bikes but everyone was there, and it was brilliant to be a part of.“Hopefully that charisma stays within the team and we take it everywhere we go because I think we'll be untouchable if we can keep that passion we all had tonight.”Berwick boss Scott Courtney said: “Hearty congratulations to the Glasgow Tigers as we simply had no answer to their riding tonight. “Rest assured the boys will regroup and get to the bottom of their issues and we will come back hungrier for it. We win together, we lose together, we are a team and we have each other's backs.”
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BIRMINGHAM stormed to three more National League points with a 59-31 win over Mildenhall at Perry Barr. In a meeting where the result far from reflected the close action on track, the Brummies made their home dominance count as they extended their lead at the top of the table.In-form Tom Bacon clocked up 14 points for the league leaders, with reserve Jack Smith adding 10+2, whilst Dan Halsey (11) and Connor Coles (10+1) were in both in double figures for the Fen Tigers who suffered a major blow in Heat 3 when Connor Mountain crashed out with a back injury.Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “When people see the scoreline, they may think it was another walkover for us - but they couldn't be more wrong.“While there were races we were confident of gaining heat advantages from, full credit to Mildenhall who made us work hard for our points.“They were jumping out the starts and it took a lot of determination, skill and courage from our riders to get past theirs and there were some great battles on track.”Meanwhile King’s Lynn youngster Josh Bailey struck a stunning 15-point maximum to help the Young Stars to a 55-35 win over Belle Vue.Bailey was well backed by a solid all-round showing from Dale Allitt’s side against one of their rivals for a top four finish, with Nathan Greaves also in double-figures on 10+1.Matt Williamson scored 14 for the Colts, who were without the injured Lee Payne whilst reserve Joe Lawlor has chosen to take time out of league racing.Allitt said: “Belle Vue are another one of our rivals in the race to make the play-offs, and we beat them fairly comfortably in the end which was brilliant.“They were slightly weakened by Lee Payne not riding, but everyone rode really well to make sure we got the result. “Josh got a 15 point maximum and was fantastic, but they all chipped in with important points. It was nice to see Lewis Whitmore get paid seven and Shane Hazelden get back in the points.”Belle Vue co-promoter George Carswell said: “Obviously a few of the guys did struggle but it was a tough night and we can’t fault any of them for their efforts. They put into the meeting what they could and that’s all we could ask them to do.“Of course we’d have liked to have got a point but we realised even before the meeting that it would be a tough ask, and even though we did come away empty handed we’re not down about it.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SHEFFIELD will aim to move on from their Knockout Cup disappointment as they return to Premier League action against Peterborough at Owlerton on Thursday. The Tigers were well beaten by Newcastle on aggregate but will now turn their attentions back to league racing as the teams in third and fourth places clash.Sheffield will still be without Jason Garrity as he continues to recover from his arm injury, whilst Peterborough are at full strength.Tigers skipper Simon Stead said: “Things didn’t work out for us in the Cup, and we were disappointed with the performances against Newcastle both home and away.“We’ve got to draw a line under that now though and do our best to make sure we get three more Premier League points at home in what will be a pretty tough meeting.”Panthers promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We've enjoyed some good results at Sheffield in the past and there is no doubt in my mind we're capable of picking up another one.“I'm expecting it to be a tight clash between two teams chasing places in the play-offs. The minimum target is a league point, but if we can snatch a win then so much the better.“We're having a difficult time at the moment, but we need to stick together and ensure the team spirit remains good as we try to turn our form around.”Leaders Glasgow race their second match in two nights as they visit bottom club Redcar, having demolished Berwick on Wednesday.The Bears have Simon Nielsen back to ride at reserve, whilst Glasgow’s Danny Ayres is ruled out with concussion.Tigers boss Stewart Dickson said: “It's the time of the season where we need away wins - we've got one tonight (Wednesday) and we know what we've got to do tomorrow.”At Foxhall, Ipswich can move closer to the play-off places with a win over Plymouth, who are in action for the first time since their Premier League Fours success last weekend.Joe Jacobs returns for the Witches after Elite League commitments last week, whilst Danyon Hume gets another outing at reserve.The Devils bring in former Ipswich man Rohan Tungate to guest for Brady Kurtz, who is at the World Cup, whilst another ex-Witch Leigh Lanham replaces Stefan Nielsen.Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We need to carry on from where we have been the last two weeks with two good performances. Plymouth have got a good side I think, and they’ll be on a high from the weekend so we’re going to need to be at our best or else we’ll get beaten.“I know we won there a few weeks ago but they could come and turn us over, and we need to be careful of that. “We know they’ve got a strong side so we have to be on top of our game again because we can’t afford anymore slip ups at home for our play-off hopes and for our season in general.”Meawhile the Isle of Wight race at home for the second time in three days as they welcome an Exeter septet to the Smallbrook Stadium with the Solent Trophy up for grabs. The Warriors bring in Adam Ellis at No.1 with Connor Coles covering the unavailable Mark Baseby, whilst the Falcons’ line-up includes Birmingham duo Tom Bacon and Darryl Ritchings.
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY JULY 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Glasgow 7.30, Sheffield v Peterborough 7.30SOLENT TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Exeter 7pm
FRIDAY JULY 29:WORLD CUP RACE-OFF: Belle Vue 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Berwick 7.30
SATURDAY JULY 30:WORLD CUP FINAL: Belle Vue 7pm
