Eagles v Lions Meeting Preview
Glory and a place in the history books beckons for Eastbourne’s speedway riders this weekend.
That’s what the Fineprint Eagles’ Head of Speedway, Jon Cook, is telling the team ahead of the Championship Shield Final against the Leicester Lions.
The first leg is on Saturday (September 14) at Arlington Stadium with racing from 7.30pm.
The second leg is the following evening at the Lions’ Paul Chapman and Sons Arena with a 5pm start.
It is Eastbourne’s biggest meeting of the season and arguably the biggest for ten years when the Eagles won the top division’s Elite Shield.
Eastbourne came close to making a second final this season but eventually came up short last week in the Championship KO Cup semi-final against Redcar.
Cook said: “We need to put Redcar behind us and quickly.
Fine margins were the difference in the end.
“We have licked our wounds and are ready to go again.”
The Eagles will be without captain Edward Kennett for the home leg.
He is representing England in a world long track team competition.
Somerset’s Rory Schlein takes his place at Arlington with Kennett back at No 1 for the second leg.
Eastbourne bring in Nathan Stoneman as a guest replacement for the injured Alfie Bowtell and will continue using the rider replacement facility to cover for Georgie Wood’s programmed ride.
Cook added: “Our line-up this week looks a tad stronger than when we faced Redcar.
“It is a weekend when any Eagle has a chance to write themselves into our rich history in what has been a most memorable and enjoyable season.
“We intend to savour it one last time in a fortnight [when the Eagles face Birmingham] and hopefully with a trophy to parade that night.”
Teams:
Eastbourne:
Rory Schlein, rider replacement for Georgie Wood, Kyle Newman, Lewi Kerr, Richard Lawson, Jason Edwards. Nathan Stoneman.
Leicester:
Scott Nicholls, Ty Proctor, Ellis Perks, Josh Pickering, Ryan Douglas, Joe Lawlor, Connor Mountain.
The Shield Final first leg will be a very special occasion both on track and off it. Click here to see what else is lined up for Saturday night.
£10 admission for Eastbourne fans at Leicester
Forms will be placed on Saturday in the Eastbourne turnstile entrance hall and the track shop (upper tier of the grandstand) for anyone wishing to complete a simple Name and Address List. That list will be sent to Leicester Speedway at 9am on Sunday Morning.
Anyone on the list can gain access at Leicester for £10 subject to having Photo ID showing name and address. Otherwise FULL Admission will be charged at Leicester.
This applies to away fans only who are Eastbourne Eagles supporters and who attend the match on Saturday evening and complete the forms.
In fairness to both clubs there will be no exceptions to this process allowed.
Image Credits: Tiffani Graveling Photography & Mike Hinves