Around the Premier League Tracks 2008
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Wednesday, 4 June
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Tonight’s matches were at Birmingham where the Brummies raced Sheffield in the first leg of the Premier Trophy semi final and at King’s Lynn where the Stars took on Workington in a Premier League match.
Premier Trophy (semi final, first leg): Birmingham 57, Sheffield 37
Birmingham were missing injury victims, Adam Roynon and Phil Morris. They used Rider Replacement at number 1 for Roynon and had Chris Mills as a guest at number 2 for Morris. Sheffield were without Sam Martin and had Kyle Hughes at number 6 as a guest.
Birmingham certainly pulled themselves together, after the disaster of Saturday night, by beating Sheffield by 20 points, giving the Tigers a lot to do to pull the deficit back. The visitors got off to a dreadful start and trailed by 12 points after the first four races. Although they lost another 8 points by the tenth race they dropped just two points thereafter with a number of shared heats to leave some hope for the second leg tomorrow night for a place in the final.
The first heat had to be rerun after Ricky Ashworth brought off Craig Watson on the second lap. Ashworth was excluded and Craig Watson led the rerun from the off with Joel Parsons holding off Chris Mills for second for a 4-2. James Birkinshaw got off to a fast start in heat 2 while Jack Hargreaves joined him for a 5-1 by passing Lee Smethills on the third lap. The six point lead went to eight in heat 3 when Jason Lyons led Andre Compton from the gate for a 4-2 then the Brummies added another 5-1 in heat 4 in a brilliant race. Ben Wilson and Lee Smethills gated for the Tigers until, firstly, Craig Watson then James Birkinshaw passed both visitors to turn a potential 1-5 into a 5-1 which took the score to 18-6.
The Tigers got back into the match in heat 5 after Jason Lyons had fallen on the first bend and been excluded. In the rerun Ricky Ashworth led Lee Smart home with Parsons third for a 2-4 then Andre Compton took a Tactical Substitute ride from 15 metres back in heat 6 replacing Kyle Hughes. Chris Mills won the race for the home side while Andre Compton’s chase ended on the line as he just failed to pass him for all six points. Birkinshaw’s third place meant that the heat was shared 4-4. Compton was out again in heat 7 and he won this one from Craig Watson while Paul Cooper took third for a 2-4 which cut the arrears to eight points. Birmingham responded with a 5-1 in heat 8 from Mills and Birkinshaw who came through the field from last to second to join his partner up front. This took the score to 31-19.
The Brummies hit maximum mode again in heat 9 as Lee Smart passed Ben Wilson on the last lap to join Jason Lyons who led from the start. Sheffield were now slipping behind badly and they lost another 4-2 in heat 10 when Jason Lyons led Andre Compton home again with Mills third. In heat 11 Ricky Ashworth took a Tactical Ride but he could only finish second to Craig Watson. With Birkinshaw taking third place the heat was shared 4-4. Heat 12 was also shared. Jason Lyons again beat Andre Compton but Kyle Hughes passed Jack Hargreaves on the line to rescue a shared heat for the Tigers taking the score to 47-29.
Heat 13 produced another 4-2 for the Brummies when Craig Watson won from Ricky Ashworth with Chris Mills third and the home side no doubt expected another heat advantage in heat 14. However Lee Smethills burst into life to win this one for the Tigers for a 3-3. Sheffield looked likely to win the last race as Ricky Ashworth led from the tapes. Jason Lyons reeled him in, however, and passed him off the last bend to deny Sheffield any advantage as Compton beat Watson for the third place point.
Scorers: For Birmingham – Jason Lyons 15 (6), Craig Watson 14 (6), James Birkinshaw 11+2 (6), Chris Mills 9 (5), Lee Smart 6+1 (4), Jack Hargreaves 2+1.
For Sheffield – Andre Compton 14+1 (6) (with 4 point TS), Ricky Ashworth 11 (5) (with 4 point TR), Joel Parsons 4 (4), Lee Smethills 4 (4), Ben Wilson 2 (4), Kyle Hughes 1+1 (3), Paul Cooper 1 (4).
Premier League: King’s Lynn 61, Workington 32.
King’s Lynn were at full strength but Workington were without Carl Stonehewer so had to use Rider Replacement at number 5.
This is not a match Workington will wish to remember! They were hammered by an on-song King’s Lynn side for whom every rider was paid for at least one race win. With Kauko Nieminen, Tomi Reima and John Branney scoring just one (gift) point between them the Comets were a three man team. To compound matters for them Joe Haines crashed into a fallen Daniel Nermark in the last race and suffered a suspected broken arm!
With no bonus point to worry about this season, a poor match can just be written off as a bad day at the office. This was certainly a bad one for the Comets. The first four races were all from the gate. Kevin Doolan beat Daniel Nermark in the first race with Shaun Tacey third for an opening 4-2 then the Stars rattled home three consecutive 5-1s. John Oliver and Kozza Smith won the reserves race while Tomas Topinka and Simon Lambert did likewise in heat 3 from Joe Haines with Kauko Nieminen trailing in last at the back. Harrison and Smith added the third maximum with Joe Haines (R/R) again left to pick up the third place point. This took the score to 19-5.
King’s Lynn added a 4-2 in heat 5 after Tomas Topinka had inflicted another defeat on Daniel Nermark in the fastest time of the season at the Norfolk Arena. Simon Lambert was on Nermark’s tail as the race finished with another 2 points being added to the home side’s lead. Heat 6 brought no joy to the visitors either as Kevin Doolan won the race from Charles Wright. Shaun Tacey who completely missed the gate finally reeled in Tomi Reima to pass him on the run in to the line. This resulted in another 4-2 as did heat 7 won by Rusty Harrison from Joe Haines while Kauko Nieminen was well out of the race at the back. Finally Workington stopped the rot by sharing heat 8 although they were helped by a fall by Kozza Smith. They were still looking for a race winner though as Shaun Tacey led home Wright and Reima taking the score to 34-14.
Simon Lambert and Tomas Topinka added another 5-1 in heat 9 then Doolan’s win from Joe Haines in heat 10 resulted in another 4-2 when Shaun Tacey took third. Finally Daniel Nermark won a race for the visitors! He was on a Tactical Ride too so his six points after a terrific race with Rusty Harrison, which saw the lead change hands twice, gave the Comets a 3-6 advantage. King’s Lynn replied to this aberration by hitting home another 5-1 in heat 12 when Tomas Topinka and Kozza Smith led home Charles Wright taking the score to 51-24.
Nermark won again in heat 13 to end Kevin Doolan’s unbeaten run but with Harrison third the race was shared. Then the Comets took another race advantage in heat 14 when Joe Haines won from Lambert and Wright for a 2-4. In the last race Daniel Nermark fell on the first bend and Joe Haines ploughed into him. Haines was thought to have a broken his arm and was replaced by Charles Wright. It was an all-four-back decision and, in the rerun Doolan and Topinka team rode to keep Daniel Nermark back in third place for a final 5-1 to the home side who scored a 29 point victory.
Scorers: For King’s Lynn – Kevin Doolan 14 (5), Tomas Topinka 13+2 (5) (paid maximum), Rusty Harrison 9+1 (4), Simon Lambert 8+1 (4), Kozza Smith 6+3 (4), Shaun Tacey 6 (4), John Oliver 5+1 (4).
For Workington – Daniel Nermark 14 (5) (with 6 point TR), Joe Haines 9 (5), Charles Wright 8 (7), Tomi Reima 1+1 (5), Kauko Nieminen 0 (3), John Branney 0 (5).
Premier Trophy (semi final, first leg): Birmingham 57, Sheffield 37
Birmingham were missing injury victims, Adam Roynon and Phil Morris. They used Rider Replacement at number 1 for Roynon and had Chris Mills as a guest at number 2 for Morris. Sheffield were without Sam Martin and had Kyle Hughes at number 6 as a guest.
Birmingham certainly pulled themselves together, after the disaster of Saturday night, by beating Sheffield by 20 points, giving the Tigers a lot to do to pull the deficit back. The visitors got off to a dreadful start and trailed by 12 points after the first four races. Although they lost another 8 points by the tenth race they dropped just two points thereafter with a number of shared heats to leave some hope for the second leg tomorrow night for a place in the final.
The first heat had to be rerun after Ricky Ashworth brought off Craig Watson on the second lap. Ashworth was excluded and Craig Watson led the rerun from the off with Joel Parsons holding off Chris Mills for second for a 4-2. James Birkinshaw got off to a fast start in heat 2 while Jack Hargreaves joined him for a 5-1 by passing Lee Smethills on the third lap. The six point lead went to eight in heat 3 when Jason Lyons led Andre Compton from the gate for a 4-2 then the Brummies added another 5-1 in heat 4 in a brilliant race. Ben Wilson and Lee Smethills gated for the Tigers until, firstly, Craig Watson then James Birkinshaw passed both visitors to turn a potential 1-5 into a 5-1 which took the score to 18-6.
The Tigers got back into the match in heat 5 after Jason Lyons had fallen on the first bend and been excluded. In the rerun Ricky Ashworth led Lee Smart home with Parsons third for a 2-4 then Andre Compton took a Tactical Substitute ride from 15 metres back in heat 6 replacing Kyle Hughes. Chris Mills won the race for the home side while Andre Compton’s chase ended on the line as he just failed to pass him for all six points. Birkinshaw’s third place meant that the heat was shared 4-4. Compton was out again in heat 7 and he won this one from Craig Watson while Paul Cooper took third for a 2-4 which cut the arrears to eight points. Birmingham responded with a 5-1 in heat 8 from Mills and Birkinshaw who came through the field from last to second to join his partner up front. This took the score to 31-19.
The Brummies hit maximum mode again in heat 9 as Lee Smart passed Ben Wilson on the last lap to join Jason Lyons who led from the start. Sheffield were now slipping behind badly and they lost another 4-2 in heat 10 when Jason Lyons led Andre Compton home again with Mills third. In heat 11 Ricky Ashworth took a Tactical Ride but he could only finish second to Craig Watson. With Birkinshaw taking third place the heat was shared 4-4. Heat 12 was also shared. Jason Lyons again beat Andre Compton but Kyle Hughes passed Jack Hargreaves on the line to rescue a shared heat for the Tigers taking the score to 47-29.
Heat 13 produced another 4-2 for the Brummies when Craig Watson won from Ricky Ashworth with Chris Mills third and the home side no doubt expected another heat advantage in heat 14. However Lee Smethills burst into life to win this one for the Tigers for a 3-3. Sheffield looked likely to win the last race as Ricky Ashworth led from the tapes. Jason Lyons reeled him in, however, and passed him off the last bend to deny Sheffield any advantage as Compton beat Watson for the third place point.
Scorers: For Birmingham – Jason Lyons 15 (6), Craig Watson 14 (6), James Birkinshaw 11+2 (6), Chris Mills 9 (5), Lee Smart 6+1 (4), Jack Hargreaves 2+1.
For Sheffield – Andre Compton 14+1 (6) (with 4 point TS), Ricky Ashworth 11 (5) (with 4 point TR), Joel Parsons 4 (4), Lee Smethills 4 (4), Ben Wilson 2 (4), Kyle Hughes 1+1 (3), Paul Cooper 1 (4).
Premier League: King’s Lynn 61, Workington 32.
King’s Lynn were at full strength but Workington were without Carl Stonehewer so had to use Rider Replacement at number 5.
This is not a match Workington will wish to remember! They were hammered by an on-song King’s Lynn side for whom every rider was paid for at least one race win. With Kauko Nieminen, Tomi Reima and John Branney scoring just one (gift) point between them the Comets were a three man team. To compound matters for them Joe Haines crashed into a fallen Daniel Nermark in the last race and suffered a suspected broken arm!
With no bonus point to worry about this season, a poor match can just be written off as a bad day at the office. This was certainly a bad one for the Comets. The first four races were all from the gate. Kevin Doolan beat Daniel Nermark in the first race with Shaun Tacey third for an opening 4-2 then the Stars rattled home three consecutive 5-1s. John Oliver and Kozza Smith won the reserves race while Tomas Topinka and Simon Lambert did likewise in heat 3 from Joe Haines with Kauko Nieminen trailing in last at the back. Harrison and Smith added the third maximum with Joe Haines (R/R) again left to pick up the third place point. This took the score to 19-5.
King’s Lynn added a 4-2 in heat 5 after Tomas Topinka had inflicted another defeat on Daniel Nermark in the fastest time of the season at the Norfolk Arena. Simon Lambert was on Nermark’s tail as the race finished with another 2 points being added to the home side’s lead. Heat 6 brought no joy to the visitors either as Kevin Doolan won the race from Charles Wright. Shaun Tacey who completely missed the gate finally reeled in Tomi Reima to pass him on the run in to the line. This resulted in another 4-2 as did heat 7 won by Rusty Harrison from Joe Haines while Kauko Nieminen was well out of the race at the back. Finally Workington stopped the rot by sharing heat 8 although they were helped by a fall by Kozza Smith. They were still looking for a race winner though as Shaun Tacey led home Wright and Reima taking the score to 34-14.
Simon Lambert and Tomas Topinka added another 5-1 in heat 9 then Doolan’s win from Joe Haines in heat 10 resulted in another 4-2 when Shaun Tacey took third. Finally Daniel Nermark won a race for the visitors! He was on a Tactical Ride too so his six points after a terrific race with Rusty Harrison, which saw the lead change hands twice, gave the Comets a 3-6 advantage. King’s Lynn replied to this aberration by hitting home another 5-1 in heat 12 when Tomas Topinka and Kozza Smith led home Charles Wright taking the score to 51-24.
Nermark won again in heat 13 to end Kevin Doolan’s unbeaten run but with Harrison third the race was shared. Then the Comets took another race advantage in heat 14 when Joe Haines won from Lambert and Wright for a 2-4. In the last race Daniel Nermark fell on the first bend and Joe Haines ploughed into him. Haines was thought to have a broken his arm and was replaced by Charles Wright. It was an all-four-back decision and, in the rerun Doolan and Topinka team rode to keep Daniel Nermark back in third place for a final 5-1 to the home side who scored a 29 point victory.
Scorers: For King’s Lynn – Kevin Doolan 14 (5), Tomas Topinka 13+2 (5) (paid maximum), Rusty Harrison 9+1 (4), Simon Lambert 8+1 (4), Kozza Smith 6+3 (4), Shaun Tacey 6 (4), John Oliver 5+1 (4).
For Workington – Daniel Nermark 14 (5) (with 6 point TR), Joe Haines 9 (5), Charles Wright 8 (7), Tomi Reima 1+1 (5), Kauko Nieminen 0 (3), John Branney 0 (5).
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