(SPEEDWAY 1)
SHEFFIELD and Somerset clash in the first leg of the Premier League Grand Final at Owlerton on Wednesday.The Rebels topped the table whereas the Tigers have got the better of the teams in second and third places despite finishing sixth in the regular campaign.Ricky Wells and Stuart Robson again step in as guests for the home side, who have defied injuries to reach this stage, whilst Robert Branford and James Shanes come in at reserve for the visitors.Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates said: “We put together the team to get this far, and although we haven’t got our own team right now it’s been a big effort from everybody involved over the season. “I would have liked to have our own team, of course, but we’re delighted with who we’ve got to replace the injured riders. Ricky and Stuart have been fantastic for us in the earlier stages of the play-offs, and I couldn’t have asked for two better guests.“I think we can get another win at home, and hopefully we can put together a decent lead to take to their place for the second leg.”Somerset boss Garry May said: “We will go into the matches with the same professional attitude which has seen us through the season, and will go to Sheffield for Wednesday’s first leg looking for the win ahead of Thursday’s second leg back at the Oaktree Arena.“Hopefully there will be a good number of Somerset fans who will be able to make the trip up to Sheffield on Wednesday to support the team.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EASTBOURNE take a 13-point lead to Birmingham on Wednesday for the second leg of the National League Grand Final.The Eagles won last Sunday’s opener 50-37 but Brummies boss Graham Drury says the task facing his table-topping team is far from insurmountable.The home side again bring in Mitchell Davey to guest for the injured Zach Wajtknecht, whilst Nathan Stoneman steps in for the visitors as Georgie Wood’s partner is expecting a baby.Drury said: “It’s nicely poised for the neutral with the away side leading going into the second leg and that means that us as the home team are the ones with work to do.“It goes without saying that we need everybody firing on all cylinders and we know we can’t afford to carry any passengers at all.“We deserve to be crowned Champions of the National League because we’ve been the best team in the league by far and they’re going to give it their all to try and pull it back on aggregate.”Eastbourne boss Connor Dugard said: “We are very much taking it one race at a time. This tie is very much alive.“We did a huge amount of hard work last Sunday and now we are all fired up to finish the job. We know it won’t be easy.”
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RICHARD Lawson is setting his sights on more silverware with Glasgow after their long trophy wait was finally ended on Monday.The Tigers clinched the Knockout Cup with aggregate victory over Newcastle in what was their fourth Final since the takeover of the club two years ago.Lawson said: “We've finally done it. We felt a lot of pressure when we missed out on the Premier League play-off final - I was thinking, ‘man, we need to win something.’“But this is just awesome. It's a great honour to ride for this club and the reception we got from the fans was amazing so it's good to give them something back as well.“I want to be back here. I want to be number one, I want to keep that race-jacket all season long and keep improving and give everyone back what they deserve.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 26:PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Sheffield v Somerset 7.39TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 27:PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Somerset v Sheffield 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 30:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Birmingham 6.30
