SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENT - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Glasgow v Workington - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
KENT took a big step towards the National League play-offs with a 51-39 win at top-four rivals Birmingham on Wednesday.
The Kings are now third in the table ahead of three matches in three days over the weekend, but the defending champions are outside the top four with only one fixture remaining.
Brummies star Liam Carr took the individual honours on the night with a 14-point haul, but the Kings did not concede a single heat advantage, led by skipper Luke Bowen on 12+1 – whilst reserve George Hunter added 11+2, although colleague Bradley Andrews suffered a broken finger in a Heat 9 crash.
Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We built this up as a must win meeting, and to lose how we did with little fight and desire from certain areas of the team was beyond disappointing.
“Kent were more fired up than we were, they were more hungry for the win and for the first real time, I didn't see much spirit or belief from the side from the get go.
“Liam rode tremendously well once again, Tom Bacon had a good night and Jack (Parkinson-Blackburn) was steady - but that was about it really.
“It might not be mathematically over just yet, but even the most optimistic of Birmingham supporters will feel like our chances are dead and buried now.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
IPSWICH will look to enhance their position in the SGB Championship top four with a home match tonight (Thursday).
The Witches face bottom club Berwick at Foxhall, where a win should all-but guarantee their place in the play-offs.
They continue to operate rider replacement for Justin Sedgmen, with ex-Ipswich man Lewis Kerr coming in to guest for Cameron Heeps with both Australians on the sidelines.
Manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “I expect our side to get the win on Thursday against Berwick who are bottom of the league, and hopefully we will do it in a convincing way. As always, we can’t take them lightly and we need to get the job done.
“As a speedway rider you never want to lose and the sport is only fun if you are winning. We have a good atmosphere around the camp and we are getting used to winning.
“We want to carry that on especially on Thursday, and then we have three tough away meetings remaining where we need to pick up a bit of knowledge ahead of the play-offs.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
ISLE OF WIGHT boss Jackie Vatcher hopes a revised riding order can lead to a change of fortune in tonight’s (Thursday) National League clash with Mildenhall.
The Warriors are in a battle with Stoke and Buxton to avoid the wooden spoon, and face a Fen Tigers side who dropped points at home last weekend in their own chase for the play-offs.
Vatcher said: “The last time we won a league match was July 27 and it’s high time we added three more points to the league table, especially after Buxton picked up two points in a surprise away draw at the weekend.
“With James (Cockle) moving up to ride at number one, I’m also switching Ben (Wilson) and Connor (Coles) to see if this can give us a better finish over the closing heats.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPE have been boosted ahead of three meetings this weekend with the news that Jake Allen will be fit to return.
Allen has been sidelined with a wrist injury suffered when riding in the SGB Premiership for Somerset, having made an impressive start to his Scorpions career in the Championship.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Jake did so well in the two meetings he did before his injury, scoring paid nine at Workington and then top-scoring for Scorpions in the Fours at Peterborough.
“We’re glad to see him back, and it will be particularly interesting to see how he fares in his home debut for us, against Edinburgh at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Workington OFF, 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
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Glasgow v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.30, Stoke v Kent 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Workington 5pm, Sheffield v Ipswich 3.30, Sheffield v Redcar (follows previous meeting), Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Kent 3pm, Mildenhall v Cradley 3pm
Results Wednesday September 6, 2017
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Birmingham 39 (Liam Carr 14)
Kent 51 (Luke Bowen 12+1)
National League points: Birmingham 0 Kent 4
