|
|
|
|
Olympic Edition
- news - results - div one - div two - div three - statistics - averages - honours - - rider search: gsa/age - rider search: name - transfer list - international standings/averages -
Comment now on the latest news at the Forum CZECH IT OUT Hallamshire make it five in Prague Hallamshire have still to be beaten over two legs in the European Cup after the holders made it five wins from five in the competition. Matt Akers side set up a repeat of last years final against Lublin with a 41-48 victory in Prague, the result taking them through to the decider for the second successive season by a clear 15 points on aggregate. On paper it should have been tight in the Czech capital, the raiders from Sheffield taking only an eight point lead with them from the first leg to the continent. But it was soon clear which of the two previous winners—Prague won the silverware in both in SL11 and 14—would be taking a spot in this years final, the visitors going in front in the meeting with a 5-1 from Guastave Liden (12) and second string Bjarne Bo (9+2) in heat three, with the same pairing taking that advantage up to seven points with a second maximum four races later. Prague made a double change in heat eight, resulting in a 5-1 of their own, however that proved to be just a blip as far as Akers and his team were concerned, who would go on to rack up four consecutive 4-2’s to complete a dominant aggregate victory with three races to spare. Belfast had been hoping to make it an first all British final in seven years, but the three-times winners missed out on reaching this years decider after succumbing to a 51-39 semi-final second leg defeat in Poland, hosts Lublin eliminating the Sinks from the competition for the second successive season with a six point aggregate victory. Belfast had led the tie by four with five races remaining, but conceded a brace of 4-2’s in the next two before their elimination was confirmed by an Eman Pulkrabek winning 5-1 in heat 13.TODAY: Shorts Hallamshire’s chances of reaching next years European Cup via the league are all but over after they suffered a fourth home top flight defeat of the campaign. They never led when suffering the 44-46 lost to Mansfield, with the visitors securing their second victory of the season at the venue thanks to Hans Willemsen’s (13) last heat win over the previously unbeaten Gustave Liden (17). It was a crucial result for the Yorkies, who end the week six points above the drop zone have started it just two clear of eighth placed Swinton. Mansfield will be looking to make it three from three at Tapton Wreck next week, they go there with a six point lead from the first leg of their KO Cup quarter-final tie, which is a must-win now for Hallamshire if they wish to keep their chances of qualifying for Europe next season alive. Meanwhile Swinton’s hopes of surviving their debut season in division one suffered a blow when they surprisingly lost out 41-49 to bottom of the table Sedgley on home shale, the Sprites repeating their victory from earlier on in the campaign at the venue thanks to strong showings from Alex Zakreshevsky (14) and reserve Joseph Woodward (8+3).
Long Eaton claimed another win over one of their main rivals on the road to mark themselves out as championship favourites. They are just two points clear at the top of division one, but having already won at second placed Belfast and now Caversham—who began the week just two points adrift of them in third—they are certainly the ones to beat. Second string Edvard Medved—who signed for the club in a £1/4million deal when the in-season transfer window opened—raced to three heat wins for the title holders as he equalled a season best 10+1 in the narrow 44-46 Rifles victory. The loss was a second in succession at home for the Swans, but they managed to somewhat stop the rot on their trip to title rivals Houston, where a last heat Garry Gould (18)/Staffan Julian (12+2) 5-1 earned them a point for a draw. Houston do take Caversham’s spot in third however, having earlier won at Sedgley, 42-48. The big meetings don’t stop coming for Long Eaton, they host the Colts next before returning to Belfast for their ‘B’ fixture, where the Sinks will surely be out for revenge.
If Wavendon were to stand any chance of reaching division one for the first time this season they had to win at bottom of the table Stoke. After going six down in the division two clash that didn’t look likely, however they rattled off four 5-1’s in the next eight races to lead by eight and eventually took the meeting win, 40-50, to see them end the week just three points off the promotion places. In division three there was a promotion chasing defining win for leaders Barnsley at third placed Shetland, 43-47, while the Ponies bounced back to take the points at Abdy, 41-49.
Prior to this season Lewis Adkins (11) best result in a WSO meeting was third in the SL12 BU21 final. He is now a GP winner at 25, the Totton number one taking a surprise victory on his series debut in the European round at Belfast, where he finished the night a point clear of a trio of riders with a total of 73 GP appearances behind them—Daniel Pesola (2nd), Marcin Jaworski (3rd) and Julian Harrison (4th).
|
|
