Good Friday round-up

Eastbourne show up well as Wolves lose two

Last updated: 22nd March 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Good Friday round-up

Nicholls in fine early season form Fotospeedway.pl

Related links

Teams

Also see

Good Friday saw a glut of Craven Shield action which included two double-headers.

Eastbourne Eagles completed three meetings in just two days as they finished their southern group fixtures.

On Thursday Eastbourne travelled to Swindon for The Robins season opener and they ran the Wiltshire side close, but the home team still sealed a 48-42 victory.

Leigh Adams roared his way to a paid maximum with 14+1, with Troy Batchelor (8+2) and Mads Korneliussen (7+2) providing the back-up.

Eastbourne's top-two Scott Nicholls and Lee Richardson both impressed with double figures and they both played a big part in their double-header with Poole Pirates on Friday.

The Eagles travelled down the coast for the first meeting and they were more than pleased to keep the home side's winning margin down to just eight points as The Pirates won 51-43.

Again number one Bjarne Pedersen was experiencing difficulties for Poole as he claimed just 5+2 and it was new signings Davey Watt (11+2). Chris Holder (11) and Pole Adam Skornicki (8+1) who showed up well for the home side.

Nicholls was in fantastic form at Wimborne Road with 16 and he was well backed up by Ed Kennett - who spent last season with Poole.

The two teams then travelled to Arlington for the return leg and Eastbourne claimed a 52-42 win which only underlines their hopes of pushing for the Elite League title this season.

Richardson top scored as he claimed his first maximum of the new season with 14+1, but it was an all round good team effort with Nicholls (11+2), Cameron Woodward (8+1), Lewis Bridger (8+1) and Kennet (6+3) all doing their part.

Eastbourne must now wait to see how Poole and Swindon fare in the remaining meetings to see if they progress to the latter stages.

Hammer blow

Lakeside Hammers showed their potential with a 47-43 win at Ipswich in the first meeting of their double header on Friday - but they then collapsed in the evening as they were resoundingly beaten by The Witches at the Arena Essex Raceway.

At Foxhall, Andreas Jonsson led The Hammers home with 11+1 points, but the whole team played their part.

Ipswich were hampered early on by illness to Robert Miskowiak, but Jarek Hampel impressed with 12 whilst both Piotr Swiderski (9+1) and Chris Louis (9+1) scored well.

The return, though, did not go according to plan for The Hammers who turned in a less than inspiring display.

Finnish ace Joonas Kylmakorpi struggled with engine problems, but there was still only Andreas Jonsson (11) who showed the form expected Jonas Davidsson (7) who showed the sort of form expected.

With the ill Miskowiak sitting the evening meeting out, Ipswich responded admirably with Swiderski in outstanding form with 14+2 whilst Hampel again did his part with 11 - but perhaps the match-winner was German reserve Tobi Kroner who shone with 9+1.

The eastern group also contains Peterborough Panthers - but they are yet to ride in the competition.

Away Wolves

In the northern section Wolverhampton tackled two away trips on Friday, both ended in defeats but there was conflicting performances.

Wolves first meeting was in Manchester against Belle Vue Aces and they ran the home side close taking the match to last heat decider.

Former world champion Jason Crump looked like he had never been away from Kirkmanshulme Lane following his switch back to the club and he claimed 14 points with Joe Screen and Charlie Gjedde both claiming double figures.

But Wolves performed well with new signings Niels-Kristian Iversen (11), Ales Dryml (9+1) and Nicolai Klindt (9) all showing up well - but number one Freddie Lindgren was way off the pace with just three.

Wolves then travelled to local rivals Coventry for the second leg of the fixture, with the first match going their way on Monday when they claimed a 53-37 win at Monmore Green.

But this time Elite League champions Coventry returned the favour with an emphatic 59-33 win at Brandon.

American Billy Janniro continued his brilliant start to the season with 12+1, whilst new signing Simon Stead again showed his liking for his new club with 12.

Olly Allen, Rory Schlein and captain Chris Harris also helped themselves to decent scores as Wolves struggled.

Ales Dryml was the only visitor to hit double figures as again Lindgren failed to impress with just five and indeed David Howe was equally disappointing with two.

Click Here for Your Free Bet