SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENT - SUNDAY JULY 30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Glasgow v Ipswich - OFF
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Scunthorpe v Workington - OFF
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 1st leg
Stoke v Mildenhall - OFF
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Buxton v Plymouth - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
SHEFFIELD moved to within two points of the SGB Championship leadership with victory in an extraordinary clash at Berwick.
The Tigers raced into a 21-9 lead with three successive early 5-1s, with the Bandits hampered by a heavy crash for new signing Nikolaj B Jakobsen.
But the home side recovered when Nick Morris won a tactical ride and a string of mid-meeting advantages saw them take a one point advantage with five races to go.
At that point, the visitors regained their momentum and reeled off two 4-2s and two 5-1s to run out winners 52-41, taking all four league points.
Sheffield No.1 Josh Grajczonek scored 14, dropping his only point in the final race, whilst Lasse Bjerre chipped in with 11. Morris scored 12+1 for the Bandits with reserve Jye Etheridge on 11+2.
Tigers boss Simon Stead said: “We told the boys before the meeting nothing less than a win would do and they got the job done in the end.
"After getting off to an impressive start, Berwick came back at us, but fair play to the boys, they got their heads together and finished strongly.
"It's another much needed win and it keeps our run of results going. I've said it a lot over the last couple of weeks, but we really do look much more like a full team now and we're really pleased with how things are going.”
Berwick manager Gary Havelock said: “To be 11 points down after five heats, then lead by one after Heat 10 only to go down by 11 at the end of Heat 15 is so, so frustrating, it's beyond explanation!
“It's the same old story of bad luck with our new guy Nikolaj taking a really bad crash in Heat 4 just as he was making ground and looking good.
“How he got up from that bang and rode again, was amazing but it obviously started to have an effect as time went by.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
WORKINGTON fought back from a ten-point deficit to defeat Glasgow 48-45 in a tense finale at Derwent Park on Saturday.
Mason Campton’s successful tactical ride in Heat 8 triggered the Comets’ comeback, with 5-1s in the next two races turning a 16-26 deficit into a 33-30 lead.
With the gap at three points going into Heat 15, guest Chris Harris was penalised for movement at the start – but Harris and Ty Proctor still collected a 3-3 behind race winner Richard Lawson.
Campton (12+1) and Proctor (12) were both in double figures for the Comets, whilst the Tigers had to be content with one league point with Lawson scoring 12.
Workington boss Tony Jackson said: “Now that was a thrilling speedway meeting to be involved in, and fair play to Glasgow for their part in what was a terrific advert for the sport.
“After seven heats I don’t think many people gave us a chance but the tactical ride victory for stand-in skipper Mason Campton in heat 8 turned things around and then two successive heat maximums put us in front. From then on it was simply a case of hanging on until the end!”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SCUNTHORPE hand a debut to new signing Jake Allen when they face Workington at the Eddie Wright Raceway this evening (Sunday).
Promoter Rob Godfrey says an improvement in the Scorpions’ home record is the aim, and is backing Allen to produce the points-scoring required to do so.
The Comets continue to use Chris Harris as a guest for injured No.1 Craig Cook, as they continue their bid to catch-up on both fixtures and league position in the SGB Championship.
Godfrey said: “We’ve lost seven times out of 12 at home this season, and that record is simply not good enough.
“We needed to do something to freshen up the team, and replacing Wilko (Carl Wilkinson) was the most obvious move, as hard as it was to release a rider who has been a fantastic servant to the Scorpions over so many years.
“They’ve (Workington) got a good side, but if our riders step up to the plate, I don’t see any reason why we can’t emerge from the meeting with the three SGB Championship points.”
Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “Chris has done a great job for us as a guest for Craig; and while there’s nothing quite like having your own riders out there, Chris has fitted in perfectly in what has been a busy few days for us.
“The lads are going into today’s meeting on the back of the superb home win over Glasgow last night and we are hoping that we can continue to pick up points on our travels as we look to move up the league table towards the play-off positions as we eat into our big fixture backlog.”
Meanwhile Newcastle host Edinburgh at Brough Park with the visitors eyeing a return to top spot in the Championship table.
The Monarchs won at Ipswich on Thursday and are currently one of three clubs on the 50-point mark – but a victory will take them above leaders Glasgow, whose home match against the Witches has been postponed.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
STOKE have moved to sign experienced campaigner Lee Dicken ahead of tonight’s (Sunday) KO Cup replay clash with Mildenhall.
The Potters acted quickly after David Wallinger was hurt at the Isle of Wight on Thursday and former Buxton rider Dicken now comes into the team.
Promoter Dave Tattum said: “David has been a competent team member this season, and this signing should mitigate his absence.
“His injury, whilst very painful, is not as serious as it first appeared and he will return to the side as soon as he is fit to do so in a few weeks.
“He hopes to be with us on Sunday to support the team which demonstrates the spirit we have at the club this season.”
Sunday’s meeting is the first leg of the replay after the sides drew 90-90 recently, with Luke Ruddick and Sam Woods due to make their comebacks for the Fen Tigers.
The Potters have drafted in Danny Ayres as a guest a No.1 for Mitchell Davey, who is on SGBC duty.
Potters captain Tony Atkin said: “It will be a tough meeting for us again - both sides are very evenly matched and it will be a great couple of meetings with a semi-final place up for grabs and it should be a great spectacle for supporters to come and watch.
“We will be looking to again take a lead down to West Row, the bigger the better because they are very good around their own circuit, but we are capable of getting a result on Sunday.”
Mildenhall promoter Kevin Jolly said: “The Cup replay with Stoke will not be easy for sure, but the lads want to get their hands on some silverware this year and we have a good record in the Cup.
“It is important we put in a good shift on Sunday evening to set us up to finish the job on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile Buxton return to league action with a home clash against Plymouth at the Hi-Edge Raceway.
The Hitmen are four points adrift at the foot of the table but can close to within a point of the Devils with victory on their own circuit.
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY JULY 30:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Ipswich OFF, Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 1st leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 6pm
MONDAY JULY 31:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Somerset 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Cradley 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 1:
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 2nd leg: Mildenhall v Stoke 7.30
Results Saturday July 29, 2017
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Berwick 41 – Nick Morris 12+1
Sheffield 52 – Josh Grajczonek 14
Championship points: Berwick 0 Sheffield 4
Workington 48 – Mason Campton 12+1
Glasgow 45 – Richard Lawson 12
Championship points: Workington 3 Glasgow 1
