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SOMERSET lifted the League Cup with a convincing 55-35 win over Glasgow at the Oaktree Arena on Friday.The Rebels already led by six points going into the meeting and never gave the Tigers an opportunity to get back into the tie.Josh Grajczonek and Paul Starke led the way for the home side as both scored 11+1, with Richard Lawson scoring 10 for the visitors.Somerset boss Garry May said: “The boys have really worked hard for this and they deserve great credit in bringing the League Cup back to Somerset.“Once we hit home that 5-1 in heat 1, you could see that there was only ever going to be one team lifting that trophy, and so it proved.“The boys did the hard graft at Glasgow on Sunday, and to come away from there with a six-point lead was a great achievement, and one which really stunned the Tigers.”Glasgow manager Stewart Dickson said: “We spoke before it about our game plan and said that the first four heats were so crucial for us. We were looking to cut into their advantage and it never materialised.“A couple of the guys took too long to get going with changing things - they were swapping bikes and swapping engines. Some of us just didn't have our set-ups right from the off.“We can't dwell on it - meetings are coming thick and fast at this time of year and we need to show a bit of character and bounce back, otherwise it's going to fizzle out - and none of us want it to.”
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BELLE Vue raced to a hard-fought 48-42 win over King’s Lynn in the Travel Plus National League with the Young Stars claiming a consolation point.The match went down to a last-heat decider before the hosts prevailed, Matt Williamson top-scoring with 16 points from his six rides whilst guest Jon Armstrong collected 14 for the visitors.Colts boss Steve Williams said: “It was always going to be a tough match against King’s Lynn. They’ve got some decent riders and some very promising young talent in their team.“Dale Allitt is a good adversary. He knows his stuff and how to implement strategies with his team but our lads dug in very deep; we knew we had to put on a good performance for the fans.”Allitt said: “It was one of those meetings that was always close. You always want more, and there were a couple of times when we got within touching distance.“It ultimately became more about securing a point at the end after Nathan (Greaves) was excluded from heat 15, and we were pleased to hold on.”
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EDWARD Kennett completed his season with victory in the Blue Riband at Poole on Friday – defeating Scott Nicholls in a run-off.Both riders scored 13 points but Kennett, who had been frustrated to miss out in the Final at the Elite League Riders’ Championship last weekend, took the honours with Chris Harris in third place after a run-off with Kacper Gomolski.Kennett said: “I didn't have such a good start to the season as I missed plenty of meetings early on but it has got better and I am very happy with winning this meeting. “I would like to thank Matt (Ford) for inviting me to take part. I do enjoy coming down here to ride, always get a good reception and it is good to be here.”
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EASTBOURNE face Cradley in the second leg of their Knockout Cup semi-final at Arlington on Saturday.The Eagles lead by two points from their narrow win at Monmore last month and are looking to set up another Final clash with Birmingham.Former Eastbourne man Richard Andrews lines up for the Heathens, who have booked Birmingham’s Tom Bacon to guest for the injured Luke Chessell.Eagles boss Connor Dugard said: “We cannot afford to be complacent. Cradley ran us close in last year’s cup final here at Arlington and very nearly derailed our treble bid.“We didn’t give Kent a glimmer of hope last week in the early stages and that’s what we must do again on Saturday. Our lads need to get control and then press on for victory.”Cradley star Ashley Morris said: “Eastbourne is always a tough place to go to as an away team and already being behind is far from ideal.“We know the odds are against us but all we can do is go there and give it our best shot.”Meanwhile Stoke and Buxton race their much-delayed National Trophy group fixture at Loomer Road.The Potters have drafted in Mitchell Davey to guest for unavailable No.1 Ben Wilson and will operate rider replacement for Ben Hopwood who has been suspended by the club; whilst the Hitmen call up Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, Conor Dwyer and Joe Lawlor.Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “We have beaten Buxton three times this year and I am hoping that we can make it four on Saturday. “We have a friendly rivalry between the two clubs and it’s always pleasing to get one over Buxton and Jason (Pipe). We have had to shuffle our line up around a bit for Saturday night, but I feel we have enough fire-power in our locker to get the victory.”Pipe said: “I’m confident if our boys can ride like they did last week and also with the addition of Jack and Conor as guests, who have a liking for the Loomer Road track, then who knows, we may pull off another away victory. “If our reserves can outscore the home reserves by a few points, then I can see us winning this fixture. An away victory would be nice and also especially to me personally.”
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BIRMINGHAM have named Tom Perry and Jack Smith as their pairing for the re-staging of the National League Pairs at King’s Lynn on Sunday.The duo step in for the originally-programmed Danyon Hume and Darryl Ritchings due to injury and mechanical issues respectively.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “I totally understand where Darryl is coming from and he is putting the team first so fair play to the lad.“Danyon attempted a spin at Rye House earlier in the week and felt in some discomfort so we pulled him out of the Pairs to give him extra time to rest ahead of the Cup Final on Wednesday.”The Brummies’ West Midlands rivals Cradley are expected to be amongst the favourites with their top duo of Max Clegg and Ashely Morris both available.Morris said: “It’s another good line-up and we know it won’t be easy. But me and Max are more than capable of winning races and we’d like to think we’ll be in the mix for first place.”Kent will now be represented by Luke Bowen – who was injured back in August - and Jack Thomas, with Danny Ayres in action for Glasgow and James Shanes committed to a grasstrack event.Thomas will be racing on a GTR engine for the first time, and promoter Len Silver said: “This new design allows for much more oil circulation which lengthens the active life of all the moving parts. So overall running costs should be a lot less and at the same time the motor retains its’ speed and power. This will be Jack's first outing on the engine and I'm busting to see him and it in action.”Meanwhile Belle Vue have confirmed Rob Shuttleworth will team up with Colts captain Matt Williamson at the Adrian Flux Arena.Manager Steve Williams said: “Both Rob and Matt always give everything we ask of them and more, and they won’t be going there to make up numbers. They’re there to win and we fully believe they are capable of doing so.”(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY OCTOBER 15:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Cradley 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Stoke v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 16:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Glasgow v Sheffield 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS, King’s Lynn 3.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 17:KING OF KENT: Kent 6.30
