(SPEEDWAY 1)

NEWCASTLE dealt a blow to rivals Redcar’s SGB Championship play-off hopes with a dramatic 46-44 win at Brough Park on Sunday.
The Diamonds, operating rider-replacement for No.1 Robert Lambert after his Polish fixture was rained-off, trailed by four points with two heats to go.
Skipper Ludvig Lindgren won Heat 14 with reserve Ben Hopwood securing a vital third place to halve the gap, and Lindgren then combined with Steve Worrall for a sensational Heat 15 5-1 over Jason Garrity and Ben Barker.
The Diamonds’ top two scored 31 points between them with Worrall on 16 and Lindgren notching 15+1, whilst the Bears had to be content with a single league point, Barker top-scoring with 9+2.
Newcastle boss George English said: “What a superb local derby that was with both sides really putting in maximum effort to take the match to a superb climax in Heat 15.
“As the rider replacement netted nine points in place of Robert Lambert, proving what a tough match it was always going to be, and with Robbo (Stuart Robson) burning a clutch out and blowing a big end it was a very satisfying win indeed.”
Meanwhile Peterborough claimed a first league triumph since July when beating Glasgow 35-31 in a rain-shortened clash at the East of England Arena.
Reserve Simon Lambert (8+3), guest number one Scott Nicholls and fellow former British champion Chris Harris (both 8) were the leading performers as Panthers prevailed.
Rain fell for much of the contest but became heavier during Heat 11 with track conditions becoming too treacherous for any further action.
Aaron Summers (8+1) and Richard Lawson (8) top-scored for the Tigers, who gained a league point from the narrow defeat.
Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “This win has been a long time coming - and it's one we really needed. It was the shame the weather defeated everyone in the end, but ourselves, Glasgow and the referee all deserve credit for ensuring there was a result.
“The play-offs might be beyond us, but we're still looking to finish as high as we can and win as many meetings as possible along the way.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

MILDENHALL were held to a shock 45-45 home draw by bottom club Buxton as the National League play-off race took another twist.
The Fen Tigers dropped two points at West Row having suffered major pre-match setbacks with Luke Ruddick out due to illness and Danno Verge being injured on parade.
The Hitmen raced into an eight-point lead only for the hosts to level the scores with a 5-1 in Heat 13, and looked set to snatch victory in the decider only for Buxton No.1 Matt Williamson to overhaul Connor Mountain and secure a draw for his side.
Mountain scored 12 for the hosts with skipper Jon Armstrong adding 11+1, whilst Williamson led the way for the Hitmen with 12.
Fen Tigers promoter Kevin Jolly said: “We had no luck today and without both Luke and Danno and operating R/R it was always going to be a big ask for us. That said, the lads knuckled down and nearly produced another great fight back.
“We really didn’t want to drop points at home, but in all honesty we could have easily come away with nothing from today. The top four again were excellent and the two kids at the bottom did their very best.
“Today makes our task harder, no doubt, but we go to the Island and Plymouth looking to bring home the away points that will put us right back in the play-off picture. There is plenty to play for in the league and the other two competitions.”
Meanwhile Lakeside completed an unblemished home campaign with a comfortable 57-32 win over Stoke at the Arena-Essex Raceway.
The Hammers provided all but one of the heat wins and had three unbeaten riders with guest Luke Bowen and Ben Morley both scoring 14+1, whilst Paul Hurry added 12 from four rides.
The Potters’ sole success came from Luke Priest in Heat 14, as he scored 8+1.
Lakeside boss Kelvin Tatum said: “It was a pretty solid team performance overall and it means we end our home fixtures unbeaten, which we felt was always going to be important.
"We've now got two away meetings left, and if we could win one of those at either Eastbourne or Buxton then that would boost our hopes of a play-off place.”
Stoke assistant boss Adam Isherwood said: “It’s always very difficult coming here, as so many teams have found this season, with several of the riders never having raced here before.
“The home riders were dialled in perfectly to what’s a specialist circuit and whilst obviously we wanted to get closer, it’s not a result we can afford to dwell on.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

WOLVERHAMPTON need one point from a Monmore double-header tonight (Monday) to secure second place in the SGB Premiership table.
The hosts face league leaders Swindon and then struggling King’s Lynn and can move above Belle Vue in the final table ahead of the play-offs.
That would give them choice of order of legs in the semi-finals if they are not chosen as opponents by the Robins.
Swindon’s 17-match unbeaten run came to an end at Rye House on Friday; whilst King’s Lynn have lost 13 of their last 14 fixtures – but will avoid bottom place if they win or if Leicester are defeated at Hoddesdon.
The hosts are at full strength with the Robins tracking Tom Perry and Mitchell Davey as guests for their injured reserves; whilst Simon Lambert again comes in for Nicklas Porsing for the Stars.
Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “After the loss at Swindon last Thursday meant we were unable to catch them for top spot, the aim was to try and build up some momentum ahead of the play-offs so in that respect our win at Leicester on Friday was a good result for us.
“We're looking to finish on as many points as possible and we could finish second in the league table which would be another solid effort from us upon the completion of the regular fixtures.
“We're looking for two more convincing wins on Monday and it should be a terrific night of entertainment.”
Swindon manager Alun Rossiter said: “We’ve got to go there looking to send a message. It’s a tough place to go, Wolves are good on their home track, but we’ve proven we can win anywhere this season.
“We were disappointed to lose at Rye House but the circumstances weren’t ideal and the monkey is off our back now.
“We’ve not got that winning run looming over us, so hopefully now that’s come to an end we can regroup and get going again ready for the play-offs.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

RYE House boss Peter Schroeck has vowed to finish with a flourish in the final SGB Premiership match of the season at Hoddesdon tonight (Monday).
The Rockets, who missed out on the play-offs after Poole’s run of wins last week, complete their campaign at home to bottom club Leicester.
When the sides met at Beaumont Park in August, it was the Lions who notched a narrow victory which has ultimately proved crucial in the battle for top four places.
The visitors travel with a chance of avoiding bottom spot, but are hampered by injuries to Erik Riss and Lasse Bjerre along with Pawel Przedpelski. Ellis Perks and Jye Etheridge come in to guest for the East Midlands side.
Schroeck said: “It wasn’t to be for us in the race for the play-offs, but we still really want to go out on a high.
“We want to win on Monday, and also when we go back to King’s Lynn, in order to show just how close we came to getting there, in what is only the first year of what we’ve called The New Adventure here at Rye House.
“Leicester desperately need the victory as well, and we remember that they won at Belle Vue only a week or so ago, so it should be a very interesting match, to say the least.”
Lions boss Jim Lynch said: “Rye House are obviously a very good side now, especially at home.
“But we certainly don’t want to go there and make up the numbers. We want to go there and entertain, and play our part in a good meeting.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

BELLE Vue are bidding to hold on to the National League leadership as they head to play-off chasing Kent tonight (Monday).
The Colts complete their away campaign and are currently four points ahead of Eastbourne – but the Eagles already have three matches in hand and a slightly better away record.
Former Kent star Danny Ayres guests for injured Colts No.1 Dan Bewley, with Jon Armstrong coming in for Jack Smith, whilst the Kings are at full-strength as they look to move to within one point of the top four.
Belle Vue star Rob Shuttleworth said: “There’s still so much to do and so much to play for in the coming weeks. Everyone is thrilled to have made it into the play offs this year but we’ve still a job to do until then.
“Kent are a strong team and still capable of influencing the final line-up for the semis. They still have a shout, so I’m certain they’ll be giving 100 per cent, as of course will we.
“The team is a bit patched-up but Graham (Goodwin) and Steve (Williams) have done a great job in sourcing the guests, and both Jon Armstrong and Danny Ayres couldn’t be better choices for this meeting.”

(FIXTURES)

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v Leicester 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn (follows previous fixture)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Belle Vue 6.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Kent 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Workington 7.30, Ipswich v Berwick 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7pm

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Workington 7pm, Edinburgh v Ipswich (follows previous fixture), Peterborough v Scunthorpe 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Belle Vue v Cradley 7.30

Results Sunday September 3, 2017

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastle 46 – Steve Worrall 16
Redcar 44 – Ben Barker 9+2
Championship points: Newcastle 3 Redcar 1

Peterborough 35 – Simon Lambert 8+3
Glasgow 31 – Aaron Summers 8+1
Abandoned after Heat 11 (rain) – Result stands
Championship points: Peterborough 3 Glasgow 1

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Lakeside 57 – Luke Bowen 14+1/Ben Morley 14+1
Stoke 32 – Luke Priest 8+1
National League points: Lakeside 3 Stoke 0

Mildenhall 45 – Connor Mountain 12
Buxton 45 – Matt Williamson 12
National League points: Mildenhall 1 Buxton 2