Eagles face Championship’s ‘strongest’ team

Eastbourne face their sternest challenge to date on Sunday (May 5) when they face the Leicester Lions at Arlington Stadium (3.30pm).

The East Midlands club are the ‘In-form” team of the moment and track former Eagles No 1, Scott Nicholls, who led the club to KO Cup glory in 2008.

Nicholls believes the Lions are in with a big chance of pulling off a strong result.

And he’s not alone in that judgement.

Eastbourne Fineprint Eagles Director of Speedway, Jon Cook, said: “Leicester are the strongest team in the league. It is going to be really tough for our first home league match.

“Scott Nicholls is in town. He knows his way around Arlington better than most.

“This is going to be an acid test for the young Eagles.”

Earlier this week, Nicholls, the seven-times British Champion, who lives in Brighton, said he believed his Lions would give the Eagles a good run for their money.

“If we can get off to a good start and get dialled in early we can push them for the win. 

“We have a team who can turn the bike which is crucial at Eastbourne,” he said.

The visitors also have another rider in their team who can tell help his colleagues unlock the secrets of the Arlington track – Ellis Perks.

Perks rode for the Eagles in 2016 when the club were in the National League.

Attendances at Arlington have been growing since the club returned to professional speedway this season and this Bank Holiday Sunday shoot-out will be a huge test of the new era Eagles.

The start time is back to the traditional Sunday afternoon of 3.30pm as the club seeks to recreate the ‘kamikaze kids’ atmosphere of the 1970s and 80s.

Teams for Sunday:

Eagles: Edward Kennett, Ben Morley, Alfie Bowtell, Lewi Kerr, Richard Lawson, Georgie Wood, Tom Brennan.

Leicester: Scott Nicholls, Connor Mountain, Josh Bates, R/R Ryan Douglas, Richie Worrall, Jack Thomas, Ellis Perks.

*It’s a double dose of Leicester for the Fineprint Eagles this weekend.

They visit the Lions on Saturday evening, also in Championship league action.

Image Georgie Wood in action. Credit: Mike Hinves