Brummies v Gladiators Preview.

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators travel up the M5 on Wednesday, looking to consolidate their position in the Play Off positions in the Championship League; after an outstanding performance in the East Midlands at table toppers the Leicester Lions on Saturday Evening. 

The Westcolour Gladiators have won one and taken a losing bonus point from another of their four Away Fixtures so far and scored 41 points (1 point away from a losing bonus away point) in their other 2 Away Fixtures.

The Birmingham Brummies are under new ownership for the 2022 season and have made a stuttering start at Home, but their septet is a very capable one and can take apart any side in the league if they all click at the same time.

The Brummies, like the Westcolour Gladiators, have suffered from injury and availability issues at the top end of their team with Josh Auty a long term absentee with a broken leg and having lost the services of Adam Ellis, (who the Westcolour Gladiators had tried hard to sign during the close season) now that the midweek Danish and Swedish Leagues are in full swing; have bought in Justin Sedgeman (another rider on the Gladiators radar at one point this season) to replace Ellis. 

With their Danish No 1 Claus Vissing riding in the Danish League, they will bring in Ricky Wells in the No 1 slot with the very much in form Josh Pickering in to replace Josh Auty. A very potent looking septet,  meaning that the Westcolour Gladiators will need to be on top form both collectively and individually.

The full Brummies line-up will be 

Ricky Wells 

Stefan Nielsen

Justin Sedgeman

Ashley Morris

Josh Pickering

James Shanes

James Pearson

The Westcolour Gladiators again call on multi-times British Champion and ex GP Star and now leading media pundit Scott Nicholls as guest for the still absent Edward Kennet and with Harry McGurk still battered and bruised from a nasty fall at the weekend, will enlist Connor Coles, a rider steeped in Devonian family ties, at reserve.

The Westcolour Gladiators will line up:

Scott Nicholls

Alfie Bowtell

Ben Barker

Michal Palm-Toft

Hans Andersen

Connor Coles

Ben Morley

The action starts at 7.30pm and anyone travelling from the South West is recommended to allow ample time to access the Stadium from the M5/M6 at Gravelly Hill as final stages of preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games are ongoing at the very nearby Alexander Stadium.

We will have a full Match Review on Thursday Morning.

Image credit: Jon Sproad.