All set for Pairs shot
Peter Kildemand and Nick Morris will fly the R.E.D Bandits, powered by…
Matchday update
Jonas Jeppesen’s sensational debut, another double figure return from red-hot skipper Drew, solid scoring from Jack Smith, a late fightback … plenty of talking points from last night’s 43-47 defeat at Glasgow.
But that was yesterday and today is … matchday.
An overcast start to Saturday in TD15 with the forecast for the sun to make an appearance mid-afternoon and stay for what is always one of the meetings of the season at Shielfield Park.
There’s changes to both line-ups due to the European Under-24 team final in Macon this evening. Ben Trigger replaces Sam Hagon in the Berwick line-up, Declan Kennedy and Will Cairns do likewise for Leon Flint and Villads Nagel with both teams operating rider-replacement – the R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS for Craig Cook and the Tigers for Dan Thompson.
Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth will, as always pose the main threat around Shielfield Park while their guests come with big reputations but both race in these parts for the first time.
A tweak to the riding order also sees Jeppesen and Kemp form what has the potential to become a powerhouse pairing while Peter Kildemand will be looking to bounce back from a below-par score in Possilpark.
It’s incredibly tight in the race for the play-off places with six teams covered by a handful of points. Edinburgh’s win at Scunthorpe and Redcar’s defeat of Poole last night changed the picture again. Oxford travel to Plymouth tonight and the Bears are at Workington this evening which means that we need an aggregate point victory to push ourselves right back into the mix as the season reaches its business end. Second-placed Glasgow need the same to close the gap on Poole.
| Team | P | W | WD | LD | L | F | A | Ag | Pt |
| Poole Pirates | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 590 | 452 | 1 | 23 |
| Glasgow Tigers | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 361 | 353 | 1 | 13 |
| Edinburgh Monarchs | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 441 | 440 | 2 | 12 |
| Oxford Cheetahs | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 370 | 359 | 1 | 9 |
| —————————- | — | —- | —- | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Scunthorpe Scorpions | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 421 | 488 | 1 | 8 |
| Redcar Bears | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 310 | 320 | 1 | 7 |
| Berwick Bandits | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 284 | 338 | 0 | 6 |
| Workington Comets | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 211 | 149 | 1 | 5* |
| Plymouth Gladiators | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 326 | 393 | 0 | 2 |
Cab Direct Championship Up to and including 23 July *Deducted two points for regulation breach
And don’t forget that tonight we will also be holding our annual Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund collection during the interval.
Tickets are on sale here until 7pm tonight or it’s cash-only at the turnstiles which open at 6pm. If you can’t make it trackside then follow the action live on BanditsTV from 6.50pm.
Bandits: R/R, Ben Trigger, Jonas Jeppesen, Drew Kemp, Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith
Tigers: Chris Harris, Will Cairns, R/R, Declan Kennedy, Kyle Howarth, Freddy Hodder, Max Perry
Pictures: George Mutch
