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PLYMOUTH climbed a couple of places away from the Premier League’s bottom two with a dramatic 48-45 win over Rye House.The Devils came under early pressure as they found themselves trailing by ten points after the Rockets provided all the first four race winners.But Plymouth steadied themselves by having the first man home in eight of the remaining 11 races and hauled their way back in contention with an 8-1 from guest Ben Barker, on a tactical ride, and Sam Simota in Heat 10.Simota piled up 15+2 at reserve for the home side with Barker adding 12+1, whilst Stuart Robson collected 16+1 for the Rockets.Devils team manager Lee Trigger admitted: “We were pretty much dead and buried after going 12 points down following heat nine, but the 8-1 brought us back.“We eventually took the lead, by one point, for the first time after a 5-1 from Todd Kurtz and Simota in heat 14 and we knew we just needed a race winner or, at least, to avoid a fourth place in the last heat decider.“The game plan worked with Kyle Newman beating Stuart Robson, while Barker made sure he held third spot from Robert Branford in case anything happened to Kyle up front.”Rye house boss Peter Schroeck said: “I initially felt gutted afterwards, but then I realised that the boys had given everything in what was proper racing, with so many blanket situations.“Ultimately we’ve taken home a match point despite being without Edward (Kennett) and Cam (Heeps). And with the effort that everyone showed, it’s hard to ask for more.”
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LAKESIDE know nothing less than a win will do as they host Coventry at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Saturday.The Hammers are fighting to keep their play-off hopes alive as the Bees visit Essex for a crucial encounter, with the visitors weakened by the absence of top man Krzysztof Kasprzak.Robert Branford comes in with no senior guest facility applicable, whilst fellow Pole Kacper Woryna misses out due to injury with the Bees operating rider-replacement.Lakeside star Lewis Bridger said: “We’re excited to be back at home on Saturday, and it hasn’t been too long since we rode at home so we shouldn’t have too many problems.“We’ll be looking for another dominant performance at home to get three points, and if we keep winning our home meetings we’ll be there or thereabouts.”Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: “I think going there with Krzysztof at No.1 we’d definitely be confident of giving them a run for their money. “We’ve got three riders who can score big points around there in Bomber (Chris Harris), Danny (King) and Jason (Garrity), so if they can perform to their best then we could still get a result.”Meanwhile in the Premier League Workington bid to bounce back from their hammering at Ipswich on Thursday when they host Redcar at Derwent Park.
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RYE House Raiders will celebrate their National League Fours success prior to Saturday’s clash with Coventry at Hoddesdon.The Raiders are in action at home for the first time since their success at Brandon, with the start-time brought forward to 2pm due to Coventry’s senior team being in action at Lakeside later.The Storm again call upon in-form Ellis Perks to replace the injured Dan Greenwood, with Jack Parkinson-Blackburn standing in for Liam Carr who is on Premier League duty.Raiders boss Peter Schroeck is looking for his side to hit back from a heavy defeat at the Isle of Wight, and said: “It’s another day, and we’ll start from scratch again. It’s as simple as that. We’ll re-group beforehand so that we’re ready for this next battle.“We’ll also have the celebration and emotion of parading the Fours trophy on home shale, and hopefully the fans will be a part of that emotion and really get behind us for the match that follows.”Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “There’s a really good mood in the team after the win at King’s Lynn, and there’s no reason why we can’t keep this good run going at Rye House.“Ellis has been superb for us at Birmingham and King’s Lynn, so we’re looking forward to having him and Jack with us on Saturday.”Meanwhile Stoke entertain Mildenhall in a rapid return from last Saturday’s fixture at West Row which the Fen Tigers won 51-39.Lee Geary deputises for Chris Hay for the Potters, while Shaun Tedham returns to the side after missing the meeting seven days ago.Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “I feel we have the firepower to beat Mildenhall around our home track and will be looking for three points against them. “They have riders that go well around here, especially their top three, but I feel we have the edge lower down the order and I will be looking to end the losing streak we have recently been on, and to get back to winning ways on Saturday.”
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EASTBOURNE stage the penultimate round of the Mitas British Youth Championship at Arlington on Saturday (6pm).In the 500cc class, Kyle Bickley and Eagles rider Tom Brennan continue their battle for the title, with Bickley currently four points ahead, whilst Jordan Jenkins also maintains an outside chance if he wins the final two rounds.At 250cc level, Leon Flint leads Jason Edwards by four points, with Drew Kemp holding third place.The 150cc support class includes Sussex-born Nathan Ablitt who has yet to lose a race in the entire series and is two rounds away from becoming the first rider to achieve that distinction over the whole campaign.In the 125cc class, the McGurk brothers and Thompson Twins are away in the Czech Republic competing for the European 125cc title, with Jordan Palin favourite to take the honours in their absence.Across the four classes there will be 30 riders competing in 34 races.
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SATURDAY AUGUST 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Coventry 7.45, Leicester v Poole OFF (now Mon Aug 29) PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Somerset OFF, Workington v Redcar OFFTRAVEL 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
MONDAY AUGUST 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30THE LAURELS: Kent 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 23:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Birmingham 7pm
