Eastbourne Eagles in Crucial Semi-final Clash
Eastbourne Eagles stage their biggest match for many years at Arlington Stadium on Saturday (August 3) night.
The Sussex club take on Glasgow in the second leg of the Championship Shield semi-final.
Eastbourne are four points behind after the first leg in Scotland last week but say that doesn’t make them favourites to reach the final.
Club director, Ian Jordan, said: “To leave Glasgow with just a four-point deficit was magnificent.
“That said, however, I think we still face a monumental task.
“Despite being at home, I really do think that we are under-dogs, given the power that Glasgow possess on and off the track.
“They have a huge weight of expectation to make the finals of these two-leg competitions, so I think that there is more pressure on them than us.”
Joint team managers Trevor Geer and Will Pottinger have been able to name a full-strength team with Georgie Wood back after serving a seven-day ban after missing a match through illness.
Jordan added: “We will welcome Georgie back in the fold on Saturday after his unfortunate seven-day illness ban over which we had no control.
“We all know what Georgie can do at Arlington and hopefully we can see a vintage Georgie show on Saturday and then an upturn in his away performances during a very busy spell where we have five successive away matches before returning to Arlington on August 24.
Glasgow will be without Paul Starke, who suffered a broken wrist in Monday’s British Final. His four programmed rides will be covered by other eligible team members.
Their No 1 Craig Cook is also carrying a wrist injury suffered during a crash when riding for Team GB in the Speedway of Nations final in Russia. The Tigers also introduce Mikkel B. Andersen to the team as a replacement for James Sargeant.
Tickets can be purchased on the gate, by Cash and or Credit/Debit Card
Teams
Eastbourne: Edward Kennett, Georgie Wood, Kyle Newman, Lewi Kerr, Richard Lawson, Jason Edwards, Alfie Bowtell.
Glasgow: Craig Cook, rider replacement for Paul Starke, Mikkel B. Andersen, Claus Vissing, Rasmus Jensen, Kyle Bickley, Connor Bailey.
Gates open at 5.45pm. Tickets available on the door (cash or card).
Match begins at 7.30pm.
*The collection for the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund (BEN Fund) during last week’s meeting against Somerset raised £1094.58 and 2 Euros. Our huge thanks to everyone who donated. A collection bucket will be in the stadium on Saturday, for anyone who has not yet had chance to donate and wishes to do so.
Images: Mike Hinves and Tiffani Graveling Photography
