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SOMERSET provided all but three of the race winners with a dominant 57-35 home win over reigning Premier League champions Edinburgh.The Rebels moved back to the top of the table with their convincing display, led by a free-scoring Rohan Tungate on 15+2 with Josh Grajczonek adding 11+3 and Jake Allen 11+1.The Monarchs suffered a blow when Ryan Fisher was involved in a crash with Paul Starke and took a trip to hospital due to an ankle injury. Sam Masters top-scored with 13.Somerset boss Garry May said: “The boys knew that we couldn’t afford to give Edinburgh a sniff of a chance, and they totally dominated things from beginning to end.“It was important that we not only won the match, but didn’t allow Edinburgh a consolation away point, but the way the boys rode, there was never any chance of that happening.“The team have been superb all year, but tonight has to rank up there as one of the best home performances of the season.”Edinburgh boss John Campbell said: “It will be some hours before we know about Ryan. There’s a possibility he has broken a small bone in his foot. The paramedic said he was in some pain but I must say I didn’t see that – but we know how tough Ryan is. “There wasn’t much in our performance to enthuse over. Dan (Bewley) did well and is learning fast and was even competitive in heat 13, but other than that, not much. “Somerset are a very powerful team and they scored a maximum from Charles Wright’s rides, though given how we rode Charles might have scored that anyway.”
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BIRMINGHAM pulled 15 points clear at the top of the National League table with a 58-32 home win over Buxton.Brummies reserve Jack Smith pulled out on the day of the meeting due to injury but the home side were still convincing winners with Tom Bacon piling up 16+1 and Danyon Hume 13+1, whilst Hitmen guest Dan Halsey impressed on 13.Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “Jack wasn't feeling 100 per cent and we agreed between the two of us that it would probably be better to rest it and we'll see how he's feeling ahead of the trip to the Isle of Wight on Tuesday."I have to give Buxton plenty of credit despite us picking up another routine win in the end. They've had no luck whatsoever this year but they came and gave it a real good go and I wish them all the best for the rest of the season.”Stand-in Buxton boss Josh Moss said: “I've really enjoyed it. There is been a great team spirit tonight and although the Brummies were not at their strongest I set the team a target and they beat that target so I'm happy with my first performance and who knows where it might lead in the future.”Belle Vue closed in on the play-off places with a 50-40 win over the Isle of Wight at the National Speedway Stadium.Lee Payne carded a paid maximum from five rides for the Colts, with Matt Williamson adding 13+1 as the home side moved to within two points of fourth-placed Cradley.Colts boss Steve Williams said: “The boys put in every effort tonight, a fantastic performance. The Isle of Wight are big track specialists. We knew they weren’t going to come here and roll over.“Every point is vital for us right now. We went to Kent, which is a tough place to go, and managed to take a point from there so really there were no excuses for us not getting all three at home.”Meanwhile King’s Lynn’s play-off hopes were dealt a bitter blow with a 47-43 defeat against Coventry Storm at the Adrian Flux Arena.Incredibly it was the fourth successive season that the Storm had won in Norfolk, with Mitchell Davey winning both Heats 14 and 15 to anchor their success.Guest Ellis Perks scored 12 and Davey added 11+1 for the visitors as they took their third away win of the season, whilst Josh Bailey and Ryan Kinsley both scored nine for the hosts.Young Stars boss Dale Allitt said: “It was very disappointing, and obviously not the result we wanted. After losing Shane (Hazelden) we needed the top five all to fire, but we didn’t do that for various reasons and we paid the price.“Fair play to Coventry, they won fair and square on the night to continue their winning record against us.” Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “It was a really good team performance from the boys, and personally it’s always nice to come back to one of my old clubs and win!“It took Mitchell two rides to get used to it but after that he was unbelievable, and Ellis did a great job for us again, he was a super guest.”
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KING’S Lynn co-promoter Dale Allitt is confident they can get back to winning ways as they host play-off chasing Swindon tonight.The Stars are looking to respond to successive defeats against Elite League Champions Poole last week, with the Robins desperate for points after a heavy defeat at Coventry.Chris Harris and Lewis Kerr will deputise for the unavailable Robert Lambert and Lewis Rose for the home side, and Young Stars No.1 Josh Bailey has been handed his chance with the senior side. Leigh Lanham guests for concussion victim Charles Wright for the Robins.Allitt said: “We’re confident we can get a good result. We have (Niels) Iversen back which is a big boost, because we all know how important he is for us. “Athough it’s not ideal with the riders we’re missing we have some good guests. Both Chris Harris and Lewis Kerr go well around our place so I’m sure they’ll have a part to play, and Josh Bailey will benefit from the experience.“Swindon can be a good side on their day, but we believe we can bounce back from last week and get three points on the board.”Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: “It’s going to be vitally important, and we have to make sure we get something out of it or things will be starting to look ominous.“King’s Lynn are missing some riders, but they’ve got some good guests in so it’s certainly not going to be an easy meeting. “It’s down to the guys now, they really need to push on and we need the riders who’ve been struggling to step things up.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SHEFFIELD will go in search of a crucial three points as they host Edinburgh at Owlerton in the Premier League on Thursday.The Tigers need a second successive home win in order to get their play-off bid back on track following a tough spell.They ended a five-meeting winless run with an impressive success over Somerset last Thursday – and they will now look for a similar result against the Monarchs, who are waiting on the fitness of Ryan Fisher after a crash on Wednesday.Sheffield boss Eric Boocock said: “We can’t afford to lose at home, and I think now we’re back at full strength we should be OK. “Last week was the first time in about a month we’ve had all our riders, and it was nice to get back to winning ways against a Somerset team who hadn’t been beaten all year.“Although they turned the tables the night after it was a good result for us at home, and we’re looking forward to another tough meeting against Edinburgh.”Ipswich host Workington at Foxhall in a vital meeting as the race for top-six places intensifies.The Witches currently occupy the last play-off spot but with Workington and Newcastle below and with meetings in hand, Director of Speedway Chris Louis has said the team need a perfect end to the season to stand a chance of making it.Louis said: “You can't bank on anything, no one would have thought Scunthorpe would go to Peterborough and win. We can't assume that we'll win because Workington's away form hasn't been very good - at some point they will win one, because everyone has. “We have to make sure that it doesn't happen on our patch because we can't afford to drop any points home or away which isn't impossible but it'll be tough.”Meanwhile Redcar host Newcastle in a local derby at the Media Prime Arena with the Diamonds also desperate for points on the road to boost their play-off chances.Bears boss Jitendra Duffill said: “I see this fixture as one of the toughest of the year. Newcastle always put up a good fight here and this week will be no different. “Robert Lambert is the best young British rider I have seen since Tai Woffinden and he should go a long way in the sport. Steve Worrall and Matej Kus usually go very well here and will be a strong spearhead for the Diamonds along with our old friend Stuart Robson.”In the Travel Plus National League, Rye House Raiders are in action for the first time since winning the Fours last weekend, as they visit the Isle of Wight.
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY AUGUST 18:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Workington 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Rye House 7pm
FRIDAY AUGUST 19:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Coventry v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30, Plymouth v Rye House 7.15
SATURDAY AUGUST 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Coventry 7.45, Leicester v Poole 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Somerset 7pm, Workington v Redcar 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Coventry 2pm, Stoke v Mildenhall 7pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 7: Eastbourne 6pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Somerset 3pm, Newcastle v Peterborough 6.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 6.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Isle of Wight 3pm, Mildenhall v Cradley 3.30
