Thanks to Bryn for this update from the Wightlink Islanders Speedway team. In his own words, Ed
The Wightlink Islanders proposed National Trophy visit to Mildenhall on Sunday was an early victim of the band of incredibly heavy rain that swept across the British Isles over the weekend – and that now means that they will now do battle with the Fen Tigers at West Row this coming Sunday, not once but twice!
After we had qualified for this year’s National League title play offs with our superb 50-40 away win at King’s Lynn last Wednesday, this coming Sunday had already been earmarked for the first leg of the National League playoff semi-final between the two clubs to take place.
Meet in Suffolk
Agreement was quickly reached between the two club’s managements that the two teams will now not only face up to each other in that over 15 heats but will then do so again in another 15 races in the National Trophy with the ‘double header’ meeting in Suffolk getting underway at 3.30pm.
Hopefully many Islanders’ fans will make the journey on Sunday to cheer skipper Danny Warwick and the side on throughout all 30 heats as they bid to record a win double!
Should that not prove possible on the day then we’ll no doubt settle for maintaining our 100% record in the National Trophy with a fourth win and, with our home leg in the play off semis set to take place at our venue on Tuesday of next week, keeping the scoreline over the course of those 15 heats as close as possible.
If we can do that at least, then most certainly we’ll be confident of reaching the league play off final against either Dudley or Stoke who meet in the other semi, given that that the last time they came to Smallbrook on August 30th we defeated them by 16 points (55-39) in the National Trophy.
Return for Adam Ellis
Good news on the team line up front is that moves behind the scenes look very likely to have ensured that teenage star Adam Ellis, having returned to France where his family live to catch up on his schooling after his tremendous showing in the league win at King’s Lynn last Wednesday, looks set to be able to ride both on Sunday and at Smallbrook in next Tuesday’s return match.
Danny and Ben for individual glory before going into Mildenhall
The Wightlink Islanders have two representatives in Saturday’s National League Riders Championship at the Rye House circuit near Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire which starts at 7pm – skipper Danny Warwick and youngster Ben Hopwood.
It has to be said that neither of them have been mentioned as potential title winners in previews of the meeting seen so far but Wightlink Islanders’ management and supporters know that both are more than capable of winning on the night if they perform as well as it is known they can.
Yes it all down to who performs best on the night, and perhaps has the rub of the green over the course of the 20 heats and we wish our both of our representatives well.
The full list of qualifiers for Saturday’s NLRC is:
Buxton: Charles Wright and Adam Mckinna
Dudley: Adam Roynon, Tom Perry and Ashley Morris
Isle of Wight: Danny Warwick and Ben Hopwood
King’s Lynn: Lewis Kerr
Mildenhall: Cameron Heeps, Stefan Nielsen and Joe Jacobs
Rye House: Jason Garrity, Ben Morley
Scunthorpe: Gary Irving
Stoke: Ashley Birks, Ben Reade
Meeting reserves: Tom Stokes (King’s Lynn) and Connor Coles (Rye House)
Islanders fans urged to turn out in force next Tuesday
Irrespective of what happens in the first leg of the National League Title Play Off semi-final at Mildenhall this coming Sunday, Wightlink Islanders fans are being urged to turn out in force at Smallbrook on Tuesday of next week to back the team in their bid to win through to the final and indeed once there, to take the league title itself.
The action will start at 7.30pm and, with a larger than usual attendance fully expected, a slightly earlier arrival at the stadium than normal is recommended.
Potentially a great four days
Indeed starting with the league’s big individual meeting on Saturday. It all adds up to a potentially great four days for all connected with our club be they management, staff, riders, sponsors, supporters and indeed media outlets with all initially setting sail from the island to follow the team and its riders over this coming weekend before returning home to be at Smallbrook next Tuesday and hopefully then cheering the side onto a place in this year’s National League playoff final and possibly the title itself!
