Sings4Speedway Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 The return of the flying Adam Sheppard could herald a change of fortunes for the Kings. Sublime in the MDL & vital impressive practice at Arlington how can we go wrong 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussex bulldog Posted July 31, 2015 Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Eastbourne ‘IT First’ Eagles return to Saturday night speedway action at Arlington stadium tomorrow (7.30 pm start).Near neighbours and local rivals, the Kent Kings provide the opposition in the Knockout Cup semi-final second leg, writes Kevin Ling.The Sussex side will certainly be ‘Up for the Cup’ as a place in the final is the glittering prize that awaits the successful combatants.Given that the Eagles already hold a 14-point advantage from the first leg at the Kings Central Park stadium the tail end of June, many will undoubtedly feel that they are already virtually assured to progress to a Final Showdown against either the King’s Lynn Young Stars, the Buxton Hitmen or long-time sparring partners, the Cradley Heathens.However the sport of speedway has often been proved to be a ‘funny old game’ and consequently, under no circumstances will the Eagles be taking the challenge posed by their Kent opponents lightly.The first leg between the two sides resulted in a 42-28 victory for the visitors in a match curtailed by a time curfew, however it was one that came at a considerable cost to the Eagles as their Captain, David Mason crashed out of the fixture and was subsequently ferried to hospital having sustained a broken leg.Unfortunately for Eastbourne, Mason hasn’t proved to be the only Casualty of War in a season that has so far been blighted by injuries to key riders.Richard Andrews and Danny Warwick are sidelined with the influential and ever popular free scoring reserve Georgie Wood being the latest name to be added to that sorry roster after he suffered a leg injury in Eagles most recent home league encounter against the Coventry Storm almost a fortnight ago.It could yet see him ruled out of the Sussex outfit’s quest for honours for up to six weeks.The club’s management have worked ultra hard to keep the pot bubbling however with a string of inspired changes to the line-up when called upon to do so, their latest recruit, Ben Hopwood, who was brought in to replace Mason, rewarding their insight with a superb 15-point maximum in his home debut against Coventry.You can be assured that Hopwood, along with exciting close season capture, Kiwi Bradley Wilson-Dean, recently appointed skipper Marc Owen, Mattie Bates, who drops to the reserve berth for the clash with the Kings, and the returning Kelsey Dugard, will be doing all in their power to harness success.On Saturday they will be joined by in the quest for qualification to the Knockout Cup Final by Coventry’s Martin Knuckey, who gave such a fine account of himself during the recent contest between the two teams, the Brandon exponent slotting in as a guest booking in place of Andrews while the Eagles will also operate the Rider Replacement facility in the stead of the unfortunate Wood.In spite of the lead they hold, the task that faces them remains tough however, the Kings vaunting the twin spearhead of the high scoring Ben Morley and the wholly impressive James Shanes, together with the likes of Danny Ayres and Aaron Baseby as part of an imposing back up cast.On their day, the Kings are a match for anybody, qualities that they have demonstrated in no small throughout the campaign.A recent 4-point defeat at the home of runaway League leaders, the Birmingham Brummies allied to an epic performance in one of the section’s showpiece events, the National Fours bearing testimony to that fact, when arguably only an injury at a crucial moment to Shanes prevented them capturing the title.Despite that however, the Eagles will remain doubly determined that when the dust settles on Saturday night it will be them left relishing the prospect of a Knockout Cup Final appearance and with it the ideal opportunity of bringing silverware to their club in their maiden season in the National League. Teams: (in alphabetical order)Eagles : Mattie Bates, Kelsey Dugard, Ben Hopwood, Martin Knuckey (Guest for Richard Andrews), Marc Owen, Bradley Wilson-Dean, Rider Replacement for Georgie Wood.Kings : Danny Ayres, Aaron Baseby, Ben Basford, Jamie Couzins, Ben Morley, James Shanes, Adam Sheppard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catinthehat Posted July 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 (edited) Is Ben Morley ment to be racing for Redcar as they have a meeting tomorrow against Edinburgh at Edinburgh? PL comes first but i know its a KOC meeting so is the KENT meeting which one takes over the other one? Or am i missing the point. The return of the flying Adam Sheppard could herald a change of fortunes for the Kings. Sublime in the MDL & vital impressive practice at Arlington how can we go wrong Was Adam the one i could see on facebook which young Tom Brennan whipped his backside with Niall by about half a lap, Would be better off asking Tom if he could ride for Kent. Edited July 31, 2015 by catinthehat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander15 Posted July 31, 2015 Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Is Ben Morley ment to be racing for Redcar as they have a meeting tomorrow against Edinburgh at Edinburgh? PL comes first but i know its a KOC meeting so is the KENT meeting which one takes over the other one? Or am i missing the point. Was Adam the one i could see on facebook which young Tom Brennan whipped his backside with Niall by about half a lap, Would be better off asking Tom if he could ride for Kent. He's been replaced by Dmitri Berge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hob Nob Posted July 31, 2015 Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Speedway is Speedway after all. I quite fancy kent could Nick this on the night or at least get close. The tie is over but there is still some action to be had. Plus the bonus of a 12 race second half to enjoy. No chance Teaboy but I applaud your optimism. Eagles to batter you Im afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted August 1, 2015 Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 I wonder which Kelsey Dugard we will get tonight? 4 rides with no falls or lasts or............ . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevec Posted August 1, 2015 Report Share Posted August 1, 2015 I wonder which Kelsey Dugard we will get tonight? 4 rides with no falls or lasts or............ . I just hope he goes out there feeling no pressure. If he concentrates on doing 4 laps each time he goes out, he will do his job. I really believe he has a good future in speedway and I just hope he gets it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevec Posted August 2, 2015 Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 Well, that's it then. We are in the final and over two legs we can beat anyone. Bring it on. Well done to Kent though. Although the aggregate result never really looked in doubt, they certainly made a match of it on the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWDFAN Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Great result for Eastbourne. Good luck in the final Bring home the Silverware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hackett Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Shanes did alright when he was here earlier in season was impressed if he could gate he would of had load more pts never gives up though! Agreed in his first heat Sunday he was gone after he gated. Then put in a great chase on BWD then found himself on the outside gate as track slickened off. He has a good style and never gives up. Perhaps a season at Eastbourne with Martin Dugard giving him advice on starting would be an option for 2016 ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waco Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) Little or no chance of James going to Eastbourne,,uncle Len would have a blue fit,James is such a crowd puller with his attacking balancing act,,he's worth his weight in gold...and is a Kent asset!!! Edited August 3, 2015 by waco 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex2000 Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Little or no chance of James going to Eastbourne,,uncle Len would have a blue fit,James is such a crowd puller with his attacking balancing act,,he's worth his weight in gold...and is a Kent asset!!! there might be an offer to good to turn down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven101 Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Id love shanes as an eagle but sadly it wont happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Gary C looked good in the second half. Much more like it.His back tyre was still smoking when he came back in after his 3rd ride. Made Strudwick look very poor. Also know that Gary was riding with a broken seat as there was no time to fix it . Most riders wouldn't have ridden let alone go out there and tear it up. If he can find his starting form from the Iow days he will score well. Did Niall have bike troubles? He looked slower than normal . He was next to Tom Brennan in the pits, should have got a few tips on throttle settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex2000 Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 We will see Cottham in the main meeting on Sunday at number 2 see how he goes but I thought he could do better than his first meeting for us and the way he rode Saturday proved he can. Hope he can carry on where he left off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Let's not forget Gary last rode nearly 3 years ago . He was cleaned up by Josh Bates coming off the start line at Mildenhall resulting in a badly smashed collarbone which took at eternity to heal. Understandable that he would be a bit apprehensive to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex2000 Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Apparently Strudwick is now riding Sunday not cottham... Wild decision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted August 5, 2015 Report Share Posted August 5, 2015 Can only imagine Gary can't make it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussex bulldog Posted August 5, 2015 Report Share Posted August 5, 2015 Gary not eligible as not in declared 1 - 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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