(SPEEDWAY 1)
SHEFFIELD co-promoter Damien Bates praised the fighting spirit shown by his side after a 48-42 win in their Premier League play-off quarter-final against Newcastle at Owlerton.The Tigers dug deep to emerge with a slender lead ahead of Sunday’s second leg at Brough Park.Josh Bates top scored with paid 15 whilst Ricky Wells and Kyle Howarth recorded double figures with impressive showings. Robert Lambert put on an outstanding display for the Diamonds with 14 as they kept the scores close going into the return fixture.Bates said: “It’s always good to get a win, and Newcastle are a very good team so we’re pleased with the result.“We haven’t got Steady (Simon Stead) or Jason (Garrity), and it’s always going to be tough without your top two, especially against a side with as many top riders as Newcastle.“It was a good team performance and I’m happy. We’d obviously have liked to take a bigger lead into the second leg, but the boys gave it their all and we couldn’t ask for much more from them.”Newcastle boss George English said: “We've had an unusually decent run of matches at Sheffield this season, and to come away from here only six points adrift in aggregate terms with a further 15 heats at Brough on Sunday will, in many people's eyes, make us favourite for a semi-final place.“But it would be unprofessional and unwise for us to assume anything in speedway, so we will be going full pelt again in the second leg to make sure there's no slip-ups and we can take a good win to make sure of success before the end of the match - as last-heat deciders can go any way!”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EDINBURGH star Ryan Fisher insists the Monarchs can still make a good shot of reeling in their deficit to Ipswich in Friday’s play-off quarter-final at Armadale.The home side trail by 26 points after last week’s encounter at Foxhall but Fisher, who will retire from British Speedway at the end of the season, says that could all change with a fast start to the second leg.Fisher said: “It’s going to be a really tough task. I think if we can get off to a good start it’s possible. “The one who surprised me (last) Friday was Mark Riss, the race I saw him win was I think the best I’ve seen him ride. He seemed to be comfortable and full of confidence. He looked good on the bike. “If he and Erik (Riss) can pair up and get some 5-1s together, and me and Sam (Masters) as well, we can start pulling back the point gap. Obviously we need everyone to be firing that night.”Both sides have guests at reserve, with Ben Hopwood replacing Dan Bewley for the Monarchs, whilst Connor Coles comes in for Danyon Hume for the visitors.Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I think the form we are in and the confidence they have got we will go into the meeting looking to get a win, and that is the attitude we have got to take.“Like we said last week they (Edinburgh) have beaten many teams by 26 points in recent years, so we need to make sure we get the job done even though we are in a very good position.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
EASTBOURNE manager Connor Dugard says his side are capable of keeping their momentum going when the National League play-offs get underway on Friday.The Eagles, who finished third in the regular standings, visit second-placed Kent in the first leg of their semi-final – and they are in good heart after their KO Cup victory at Cradley on Tuesday.Dugard said: “We would love to get an away win at Kent, but if that is not on the cards we know the job is to keep it as tight as possible.“Anything can happen in speedway, look at what Wolverhampton did to Poole. If everyone is firing, there is no reason why we can't come away with the win.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
WOLVERHAMPTON captain Fredrik Lindgren is expecting another big atmosphere at Monmore Green in the Elite League Grand Final on Monday.Wolves face Belle Vue in the first leg after making history this week by overturning a 12-point first leg deficit to get the better of reigning champions Poole in a dramatic semi-final.Lindgren said: “The atmosphere against Poole was amazing, you could tell it was a special night, and that gave us that extra drive as a team.“Now we have another tough one against Belle Vue but we can do it, especially with the help of our fans. We are looking forward to it.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BELLE Vue skipper Scott Nicholls admits he’s happy to be facing Wolverhampton in the Elite League Grand Final next week.Nicholls is looking to win the title with a third different club after his triumphs with Ipswich in 1998 and Coventry in 2005 and 2007 – the first victory for the Bees ironically coming against his current club.He said: “None of us were too flustered about who we’d face in the Final, but I think for me it’s great to see Wolverhampton in there with us because it guarantees a new league champion.“What’s more complimentary to us though is the fact that we haven’t changed our team all season. Nearly every other team has made changes at some point whereas we’ve retained the same 1-7.“We’ve worked hard to get to this point, just as we did last year. But now we’re more determined than ever to finish the job. We are a powerful team and I firmly believe we have what it takes.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Kent v Eastbourne 6.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 1:PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Redcar 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 2:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Glasgow v Somerset 3pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm
