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EIGHT clubs will be competing at Brandon on Sunday afternoon as Coventry stage the 2016 National League Fours.It’s the third year in succession that the meeting, one of the top events on the NL calendar, has been hosted by the Storm, and the past history of the Fours includes plenty of drama and close finishes.Birmingham defend the title and have been drawn in Group B with the hosts, Belle Vue and Eastbourne.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “Going there as defending Champions is nice but we're under no illusions; we know it's going to be a big ask and we're just looking to do ourselves proud.“The four riders we are going with are all flying of late and they're all enjoying fantastic seasons!“It's going to be a tremendous opportunity and experience for the two Jacks (Smith and Parkinson-Blackburn) in particular and I firmly believe it will stand them in good stead for the future.”Group A features Mildenhall, Rye House, Cradley and Buxton – the latter having stepped in at short notice following the withdrawal of King’s Lynn due to injury and illness.The two groups are each run over eight races, with an eight-heat Final for the top two teams in each group to give a 24-race schedule in total.Admission prices are £15 for all adults with under-16s free as usual, and programmes will be on sale for £2.(SPEEDWAY 2)

GLASGOW kept their push for Premier League honours on track with a hard-fought 46-44 win at Rye House on Saturday.Nike Lunna continued his excellent return from injury with 12+2 at reserve for the Tigers, who also had a fine guest in that department with Dan Bewley scoring 9+1.It was an incredible fightback from the Ashfield side - whose top men from Friday’s win at Plymouth, Richie Worrall and Aaron Summers, scored nothing from their fist four rides combined.Manager Stewart Dickson said: “We had one or two riders who didn't have their usual performances that we've come to expect - but others dug in.“I said to the guys that weren't going well that, in the last few heats, that they had to reward the reserves - and the other guys who were mucking in - by scoring big points. At the end, we got it. I thought it was deserved. We had to win that tonight.”Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “It is just gutting to lose by this margin. It couldn’t have been any closer. I really thought that we were in with a shout today, but that’s Speedway. “It works both ways, and unfortunately we didn’t get the decision with Robbo (Stuart Robson) in Heat 13 – we really thought he had it – but that’s just the way it is.”Elsewhere, Peterborough enjoyed another awesome away day to climb back into third place in the table.Number one Craig Cook, Danish ace Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen and reserve Ashley Morris all produced double-figures scores to lead the Panthers to a 50-40 victory at Berwick.Kevin Doolan scored 12 for the Bandits, and boss Scott Courtney admitted the club have struggled to overcome the long-term injury absence of Sebastian Alden.Panthers boss Carl Johnson said: “You’re always going to be in with a chance of winning a meeting when you have three riders going so well.“Craig was nothing short of outstanding, Nikolaj really excelled in the number four slot after we tweaked the riding order and Ashley had a great night at reserve with his best meeting for the club so far.“It was an excellent all-round performance in all honesty with the other guys also chipping in with valuable points to help us pick up a result that gives our play-off hopes a huge boost.”Courtney said: “Again I have to congratulate the better team who deserved to win, and that's Peterborough. We have never recovered from the loss of Sebastian Alden to injury, as how do you replace a guy like that.“But the track also caught us out a couple of times and that didn't help either. We have problems, and they are problems we must solve as soon as possible as the season's end is closing in.”Workington maintained their 100 per cent home league record by sharing the points in a tense final heat against Ipswich at Derwent Park.Ricky Wells led the Comets to victory with a 13-point haul whilst Kenneth Hansen added 11. Ben Barker (12+1) and Danny King (12) were both in the big points for the Witches as they took a league point from the meeting.Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: "We knew that Ipswich would be a big threat, and so it proved when they fought back to level the scores after heat 12. But, Ricky Wells played a true captain’s part by taking the chequered flag in heats 13 and 15, which saw us home by the narrowest of margins in the end.“Credit must also go to the Witches for making it an excellent match, and with ten of the heats being shared it could have gone either way; but fortunately we came out on top, which could prove crucial in the final reckoning.”Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was a great effort from the boys and a good performance from everyone.“We've carried on our form and I'm very happy with them. We came looking for a win as I feel we are in that sort of form but we've come a long way and we need to build on that tomorrow at Glasgow.”

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DAN Halsey scored an 18-point maximum to lead Mildenhall to a 51-39 win over Stoke in the Travel Plus National League at West Row.The Potters were just two points down after Heat 10 but Halsey received strong support from Connor Coles (11+3) as the visitors were prevented from taking a league point. Danny Phillips top-scored for Stoke on 9+2.Mildenhall manager Robert Henry said: “Although we probably made things a little more difficult than we should have tonight, Stoke kept us honest and in the end a twelve point victory was well earned. “Danny Halsey was superb tonight as he has been recently both home and away, when he rides like this there are few that can get near him here.”Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “I don’t feel the final result tells the full story of the meeting, certainly we were very much in touch all evening and to go down by 12 points is harsh in the end.“Credit to Dan Halsey because an 18-point maximum is a fine achievement at any level but I do think our performance merited at least a league point, and it’s a shame we missed out.”

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BRITISH Youth boss Neil Vatcher praised the country’s upcoming talent after the sixth round of the national series at Belle Vue.Kyle Bickley and Leon Flint took the honours in 500cc and 250cc categories at the National Speedway Stadium, with Nathan Ablitt and Joe Thompson winning the support classes.Vatcher said: “There’s a lot of quality youngsters coming through. One question I’ve been asked is how many of the 500cc class will be eligible for the National League next year.“The answer is all of them which is a real positive to take into the 2017 season. From the racing we saw on Saturday, they already appear on par with the riders currently competing in that league.“You couldn't have called a result in any of the classes until the last few races which is always a crowd pleaser. The finals were just superb and kept us on the edge of our seats to the very end.“The only exception to apply, I would say, was Nathan Ablitt in the 150cc class. He has yet to be defeated in any race in this entire series! That is an amazing achievement for the kid.”

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GLASGOW boss Stewart Dickson is calling on his side to complete a near-perfect weekend when they host Ipswich on Sunday.The Tigers have collected away wins at Plymouth and Rye House and now have a home fixture to round off the hectic three-day series.Danny Ayres returns at reserve for the Tigers, whilst the Witches go into the meeting in the top six after collecting a league point at Workington on Saturday.Dickson said: “There's no point in doing all this good work and not winning tomorrow (Sunday). Tonight (at Rye House) is great and we'll enjoy the trip up the road, but straight away my attention has turned to the Ipswich match.“It's part three of a punishing schedule, but that's where championships are won and lost.”Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We will go there looking for a win, we've got a team that will go well round there and we're a good side in good form.“Everyone has experience round there and everyone has their role to play. Nico (Covatti) has put in a massive effort to get back for the meeting and he should be good at Glasgow and we're pleased to have him back as he is a very good rider.”Meanwhile Sheffield have been dealt a blow ahead of Sunday's trip to Newcastle with Jason Garrity ruled out due to a hand injury.Garrity did the damage as he crashed in heat nine of their clash at Somerset on Friday and will now miss the clash in Tyneside, with rider-replacement to operate in his absence.Sheffield skipper Simon Stead said: “Newcastle is going to be very tough, and last time we were there is was obviously very disappointing.“We’ll be looking to right a few wrongs there (after KO Cup defeat), and I think we can do a lot better. It won’t be easy, but hopefully everyone can play their part and we can come away with something.”

(FIXTURES)

SUNDAY AUGUST 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Ipswich 3pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry 2.30

MONDAY AUGUST 15:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Birmingham 7.30, Kent v Belle Vue 6.30

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Isle of Wight 7.30, Birmingham v Buxton 7.30, King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30