Premier League
Isle of Wight Speedway: Can Islanders stop Monarchs going top?
By Nick
Jul 14, 2008, 19:02

As our team manager David Croucher alluded to in our last press release, tomorrow (Tuesday's) home match for the Wightlink Islanders is shaping up to be our toughest test so far at Smallbrook this season.

We'll be going into action bereft of the services of young Australian Corey Gathercole who is at home recovering from an operation at the weekend to wire up the bones he broke in his left hand as a result of a crash during last Tuesday's home match.

And his absence could prove crucial for the team we face tomorrow are the very much in-form Edinburgh Monarchs who moved up to second place in the Premier League table with a cracking 48-41 away victory at Reading, a victory that moves them to within a point of current leaders Somerset.

Consequently a win for them tomorrow, or even a draw will see the Scots move to the top of the league and many believe that they will ultimately be crowned champions.

But the Wightlink Islanders, despite the hammer blow of losing Cory's services for four to five weeks, are in no mood to surrender their unbeaten home record and so all the ingredients are there for what promises to be one of the matches of the season at Smallbrook.

Edinburgh also have a rider ruled out through injury, in their case William Lawson who has a broken collarbone, but whereas he's top of their current averages and thus the Monarchs can bring in a guest rider from another club to replace him, the Wightlink Islanders can only operate the rider replacement rides and share his programmed rides amongst the remaining team members with the exception of Glen Phillips.

The Monarchs have certainly added to the increasing pressure on the depleted Islanders by making a wise choice in relation to the guest they've booked in to take Lawson's place for that guest is Carl Stonehewer who scored a massive 17 points on his last visit to the island enabling his own club Workington to end our KO Cup dreams for another year.

Add to him the likes of new teenage Swedish sensation Thomas Jonasson, hot-shot American Ryan Fisher, Aussies Matthew Wethers and Aaron Summers plus in-form Brits Derek Sneddon and Andrew Tully and you soon realise that our unbeaten home record will very much be under threat in a match that will get underway at the usual time of 7.30 p.m.

It really IS a match not to be missed and admission prices are Adults - 13; Concessions & Children aged 10 to 15 - £10; Children aged 5 to 10 - £2 with free admittance for kids under 5. A meeting programme will be on sale priced £2.50.

The stadium is situated in Ashey Road, Ryde (for those with satnav devices the postcode is PO33 4BH) and there's a large free car park. A special bus service runs from Ryde Esplanade to the stadium, returning immediately after the last race to connect with the 10.15pm Fastcat Service to Portsmouth. For those travelling over from the mainland for the day there's a special "Wightlink Flyer" deal available. This is a foot passenger inclusive ticket. It includes return travel on the Wightlink Fastcat from Portsmouth Harbour, return travel on the short train journey to the end of the pier, travel by southern Vectis bus to Smallbrook Stadium and entrance to the race meeting itself. Prices are £19.30 for adults and £8.20 for children.

So, can the Wightlink Islanders successfully defend their unbeaten home league record against these Scottish invaders? Come along and see!

WE SAID IT WOULD BE TOUGH AT WORKINGTON - AND SO IT WAS!

The Wightlink Islanders sorely missed the injured Cory Gathercole in their latest away match at Workington on Saturday and crashed to a 58-32 defeat against a side who, like ourselves, are unbeaten at home this season.

We simply had no answer to their three heat leaders of Daniel Nermark, Kauko Nieminen and Carl Stonehewer who only dropped one point between them on what was simply a night to forget for the Wightlink Islanders.

MATCH DETAILS:

Final Score: Workington Comets 58 Wightlink Islanders 32
(Premier League)

Workington scorers (in riding order - No. of rides in brackets): Daniel Nermark 15 (5), Tommy Reima - rider replacement, Kauko Nieminen 14+1 (5), Joe Haines 8+2 (5), Carl Stonehewer 10+1 (5), Charles Wright 6+1 (6), John Branney 5+2 (6).

IOW scorers (in riding order - No. of rides in brackets): Jason Bunyan 5+2 (6), Corey Gathercole - rider replacement, Glen Phillips 6+1 (5), Paul Fry 8+1 (5), Krzysztof Stojanowski 4 (5), Andrew Bargh 5+1 (4), James Holder 4 (5).

CLUB AGM...

Another reminder that the club's Annual General Meeting will take place in the Premier Bar at the stadium on Thursday July 24 commencing at 7.30pm. All shareholders are invited to attend.

For ALL the latest news, photos, results, statistics and everything you need to know about the Wightlink Islanders and upcoming events at Smallbrook, go to: www.islandspeedway.co.uk