Aussies book final spot

Australian skipper sends his side into World Cup final.

Last updated: 15th July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Aussies book final spot

Adams: Star turn (Pic credit Les Aubrey)

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Australia booked their place in the World Cup final after beating Poland in a run-off at the end of the tournament opener in Leszno.

Both the Australians and hosts Poland had finished level on 56 points after the meeting also involving Russia and Hungary.

The two top riders of the contest - Aussie Leigh Adams and unbeaten Pole Jarek Hampel fought out the race-off but it was the man from Down Under who came out on top.

Adams had dropped his only points of the evening to Hampel during the heats but exacted his revenge in the thrilling finale to send his team into the final.

Poland will have to try again in Thursday's race-off where they will go up against the Russians, who produced a promising display against the two big guns.

Emil Sajfutdinov bagged 14 points for Russia, who finished with 36 points, 20 behind the leaders, while Hungary trailed in last with just ten points on the board - nine of them from their top man Matej Ferjan.

Australia started off in great style with 13 of the 15 opening points available going their way, but Poland hit back with Hampel working well with Rune Holta (13) and Tomasz Gollob (12).

Chris Holder and Jason Crump kept bringing in the points for the Aussies and a thrilling finale saw Hampel win Heat 25, but Holder came in second to tie the scores.

Australian skipper Adams then fired his team into the final by beating Hampel in the head-to-head battle.

The winners of Monday's second event at Coventry will head straight to the final, while the second and third placed teams will go to Vojens for the race-off to decide the two teams to complete the final line-up.

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