(SPEEDWAY 1)
CAPTAIN Kyle Howarth hailed Sheffield’s resolve after an inspired fightback saw the SGB Championship leaders overcome Newcastle 53-37 at Owlerton.
The Tigers found themselves six points down after five heats with visiting guest Ryan Douglas proving their tormentor in chief, as he won his first two outings.
But the home side levelled the scores in Heat 7 and did not look back thereafter.
Howarth ended with four straight wins to finish on 14 points, with back-from-injury Lasse Bjerre on 12+1, whilst Douglas (13) and Stuart Robson (10) top scored for the Diamonds.
Howarth said: “We were six down at one point and that was a bit too close for our liking. We have not really been behind at home this season so we had a quick team talk during the grading break.
“The message was we needed to get our acts together and get it sorted but to Newcastle’s credit, they were strong at the start and the rider replacement played into their hands.
“Overall, I’m proud of our boys. There was a bit of pressure but we showed we could deal with it, we got it together and once the momentum got going in time for the big heats we all delivered.”
Diamonds boss George English said: “Our opening few heats were amazing and caught a lot of people unawares, and at least it showed that we are a strong team capable of ‘shock’ race results.
“However the powerful home strength shone out, as it tends to here and wrapped our push for glory up and dumped it, but tonight was a performance we can be proud of and that's a massive improvement on last time.”
Ipswich eased to a third successive victory with a 52-41 win over Workington at Foxhall.
Chris Harris stood in for Craig Cook in fine style for the visitors with a 15-point haul, but the Witches were the more solid all-round side and sealed their success with a 5-1 in Heat 13.
Danny King top-scored with 14 points, and Cameron Heeps continued his good run of form with ten as the Witches won despite Justin Sedgmen suffering more shoulder trouble.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “The 8-1 pulled the scores closer together but it was a good performance by us.
“Sedgy was really struggling with his shoulder and he hurt it straight away in his first ride. The other six really put on a show though.
“Kyle (Newman) has put in a massive shift tonight as he is in a lot of pain. His body is beaten up and he probably needs a rest with all the knocks he has had. He is busy at the moment and is gritting his teeth and putting in a real shift for us.”
Meanwhile Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson was left frustrated by a 42-47 defeat at Redcar.
The Ashfield men looked to be in control but an eight-point lead was cut to three by a 5-0 to the Bears in Heat 8 when both Tom Perry and Nike Lunna failed to finish.
The home side then secured four 4-2s in the last four races to leave the Tigers with just one league point.
Ben Barker top-scored for the Bears on 13, whilst Dan Bewley and Richard Lawson both scored 11 for the Tigers.
Dickson said: “All we're doing is giving teams a chance to get back in it. We're making things really difficult for ourselves and it's another away match gone, which we could and should have won - we had a tremendous opportunity because Redcar were under-strength.
“We're all down, but we're all in it together and we need to sort it out. We're going to have to stick in and start helping each other on the road.
“We are running out of away matches to be where we want to be, which is at the summit of the league at the end of the season.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
PLYMOUTH eased away from the foot of the National League table with 48-42 win at the Isle of Wight.
The Warriors led the match by six points with five races to go, but the Devils produced a strong finish to secure victory at the Smallbrook Stadium.
The visitors reeled off a run of four successive 4-2s to take the lead, and top men Adam Roynon and Steve Boxall then raced to a 5-1 over Connor Coles and guest Kyle Bickley in the decider.
Roynon was unbeaten after a first-ride retirement (12) whilst Boxall scored 11+1, with Coles top-scoring for the Warriors on 11.
Plymouth team boss Laurence Rogers said:“ It was a great team performance and they fully deserved the win. In fact we were unlucky not to take all four league points with the two engine failures losing us that chance.
“The win puts us in good spirits for the home clash on Friday night with the Kent Kings at the St Boniface Arena .”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
POOLE have got off to an early start with their 2018 team planning with the signing of Polish youngster Kacper Woryna.
The Pirates have suffered some poor results in recent weeks and with promoter Matt Ford already looking ahead to next season has swooped for the in form former Coventry rider.
Woryna will follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Antoni, who rode for the Dorset side in 1973 and 1974.
Ford said: "I have been keeping close tabs on Kacper's development for a while now and he has made significant improvement this season especially. Anyone who takes the time to look at the Polish scores will see that for themselves and all things going to plan and there are no curve balls at this winter's Annual Conference, then he will be the first name on our 2018 team-sheet.
"I don't think there can be a rider any keener to want to ride for Poole than Kacper. He has told me time and time again that he has always dreamed of being a Poole Pirate and up until the point when he joined Coventry he always rode with a skull and crossbones on his race suit."
"I feel that he could well have a big future ahead of him and that he will be ready to come back to the UK next season, having gained some limited experience during his spell with Coventry. Kacper has something about him which leads me to think that he could be the next Maciej Janowski."
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SOMERSET and Swindon will try again tonight (Friday) with the sides set to meet at the Oaktree Arena.
The scheduled clash between the sides at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday was postponed due to unexpected heavy downpours – meaning the sides have yet to meet in Wiltshire this season.
Somerset bring in Josh Bates and Todd Kurtz for unavailable duo Cameron Heeps (SGBC commitment) and Jake Allen (injured) whilst the table-topping Robins call in James Sarjeant to guest for the injured Zach Watjknecht at reserve.
Swindon team boss Alun Rossiter said: "To miss out on a meeting on Thursday was disappointing but thankfully we've got tonight to start another busy period for the team.
"Somerset have got some good riders and they're dialled in well around their own track.
"But our boys are eager to get back out there and keep our momentum going."
(SPEEDWAY 5)
EDINBURGH host Ipswich in an SGB Championship clash involving two of the top four at Armadale tonight (Friday).
The fourth-placed Monarchs are five points behind the Witches, but have two matches in hand.
Chris Harris steps in to guest for broken collarbone victim Sam Masters, whilst Mark Riss returns to the side after injury. Ipswich operate rider replacement for Justin Sedgmen who has a shoulder injury.
In the last meeting of the sides in Scotland, the Witches led with three races remaining but went home point-less after a 40-48 defeat.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “I’d like to think we will have a bit of clay in the track this week, we need to make away riders work to win races as we know that riders such as Danny King and Rory Schlein are capable of big scores here.
“I’ve said all along we cannot afford any more slip ups at home and this Friday will be a challenge.”
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Last time was a big disappointment there. I think after the win on Thursday it is not massively vital to go there and win.
“We are in a very strong position in the play-offs. It gives the boys some time to go out and have fun and enjoy themselves on the bike. We can work on things as a team and it is good to have an overnight stay and we are firmly focused on the play-offs.
“Sedgy is really good at Edinburgh and is a track expert, so to lose him going there is a blow. The reserves have done when they have visited new tracks and their aim is to improve on the second visit.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
NATIONAL League leaders Belle Vue host reigning champions Birmingham at the National Speedway Stadium tonight (Friday).
The Colts can extend their lead to four points if they extend their 100 per cent home record to nine matches, whilst the Brummies are embarking on a vital run of three matches in four days on the road as they bid to make the play-offs.
Jon Armstrong steps in for the hosts with Lee Payne (injured) and Rob Shuttleworth out, whilst the Brummies have Tom Bacon back from a shoulder injury and operate rider-replacement for the absent David Mason. Alex Spooner continues at reserve.
Belle Vue star Jack Smith said: said: “So far we’ve had a really consistent season at home and hopefully we can continue that trend against Birmingham. But they’re a strong team with lots of potential around our track.
“I’m looking forward to facing them. It’s the team I started my career with last year and we had a really good run of trophies and that’s something I’m keen to repeat with Belle Vue this season.
“Things are very close in the league at the moment and while we’ve got the opportunity to extend our lead over Eastbourne, they have a couple of matches in hand so things will get interesting.
“We’ve got to keep our heads down and focus on the job. Birmingham are fourth right now and a big win for them could see them jump to within three points of us so we need to really knuckle down.”
Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We know it’s going to be a very tough meeting, but the lads have just got to go out there, give it their best shot and give a good account of themselves.
“The majority of people will be anticipating a home victory – but that could work in our favour as we’ll have nothing to lose.
“We’ve also got away meetings at Buxton and Cradley on Sunday and Monday respectively so we just need to try and keep our confidence as high as we possibly can.”
Meanwhile Plymouth return to the St Boniface Arena with a home match against play-off chasing Kent.
The Devils won at the Isle of Wight on Thursday whilst the Kings secured last-heat decider victories at Mildenhall and against Lakeside last weekend to move closer to the top four.
Kean Dicken continues as a guest for the unavailable William O’Keefe for the home side, whilst Ben Morley guests for Luke Bowen for the Kings, with rider-replacement in operation for Nathan Stoneman.
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY AUGUST 18:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Somerset v Swindon 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Birmingham 7.30, Plymouth v Kent 7.15
SATURDAY AUGUST 19:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Belle Vue 8pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Ipswich 7pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 2nd leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 7: Glasgow 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 20:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 3pm, Scunthorpe v Peterborough 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Lakeside 3pm
Results :Thursday August 17, 2017;
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Ipswich 52 (Danny King 14)
Workington 41 (Chris Harris 15)
Championship points: Ipswich 3 Workington 0
Redcar 47 (Ben Barker 13)
Glasgow 42 (Dan Bewley 11, Richard Lawson 11)
Championship points: Redcar 3 Glasgow 1
Sheffield 53 (Kyle Howarth 14)
Newcastle 37 (Ryan Douglas 13)
Championship points: Sheffield 3 Newcastle 0
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Isle of Wight 42 (Connor Coles 11)
Plymouth 48 (Adam Roynon 12)
National League points: Isle of Wight 0 Plymouth 3
