Gladiators v The Brummies

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators return to Championship action tomorrow night against the Birmingham Brummies, ahead of a crucial five match stretch, with three home fixtures and two away fixtures that will decide their final league position ahead of the Play-Offs.

The meetings fall in the midst of one of the worst injury crises that the sport has ever seen befall a single team, as the Gladiators chase that final top six finish following a series of outstanding performances throughout the season.

The Westcolour Gladiators currently lie in 5th place in the table, needing to finish in the top 6 but have matches in hand of Edinburgh who lie 4th on 26 points, Glasgow in 3rd on 34 points, Poole in 2nd on 36 points and Leicester, who top the table on 46 points with all of their matches now completed.

With a maximum of 14 points still available to the Westcolour Gladiators, they will be fighting to the wire to finish as high up the table as possible, and with their proud unbeaten Championship League home record still intact and with them still being the only team to score more than 40 points in every away League fixture, they will be THE TEAM that every other fears in the Play-offs over a two leg aggregate tie. 

With every member of the Westcolour Gladiators Team having been injured or unavailable at some point this season, Gladiators Bosses have issued a rallying cry for the clubs truly wonderful supporters to cheer them home over the final stretch in the coming weeks and remain convinced that the core of the team will be fit and ready for the Play-Offs when they commence in September.

Club Director and Promoter Mark Phillips announced yesterday that Hans Andersen hopes to be fit by next weekend and fellow Dane Michael Palm Toft is aiming to be fit in about a week’s time. Reserves Ben Morley and Harry McGurk are both available for selection tomorrow night. 

Alfie Bowtell has had inconclusive NHS scans on his knee ligament injury and is seeking a private consultation tomorrow. He will therefore miss the clash with the Brummies, but club bosses will hope for more positive news later in the week. Ben Barker remains suspended.

Long term injury victims Edward Kennett and Dan Gilkes remain under the guidance of medical experts, although there are hopes Dan may be fit to start practising again before the end of August.

With five riders therefore unavailable tomorrow, the Gladiators bosses have spared no expense in bringing in the best available guest options.

Richie Worrall who was a superb guest replacement recently, will stand in for Edward Kennett, Lewis Kerr who also did a very solid job too recently will deputise for Michael Palm Toft, Josh Pickering who is one of the most exciting riders currently racing in the UK and who has helped the club with some outstanding efforts already this season, will again come in to assist and replaces the suspended Ben Barker.  Danyon Hume, one of the most improved riders in the Championship this season following his move to Glasgow will  replace Hans Andersen. The vacancy left by the injured Alfie Bowtell will be covered by Rider Replacement facility.

Provisional Line up

Richie Worrall (for Edward Kennett)

R/R for Alfie Bowtell

Lewis Kerr (for michael Palm Toft)

Danyon Hume (for Hans Andersen)

Josh Pickering (for Ben Barker)

Ben Morley

Harry McGurk

With the club entering a vital phase of the season and Devon, Cornwall and the South West full of holidaymakers the Club is hoping for a BUMPER Crowd tomorrow night.

Remember ALL UNDER 16’s go FREE and it’s best to reserve a seat by Booking ONLINE in advance.

Tickets CAN be purchased by Cash or Card (via a Phone App to the Booking Site) on the Night and FULL DETAILS are available via the following links.

MATCH TICKETS ONLINE HERE

FREE Under 16’s initiative

(All Under 16’s are also most welcome to run around the Track in the Interval between Races in the hugely popular “Running Race” where each entrant gets a small prize)

All UNDER 16’s are also offered a FREE SEASON PASS on their first visit to the Track in 2022.

We’ll have a FULL PREVIEW  tomorrow morning with both Teams and riding orders fully confirmed.

Don’t forget, Tuesday night is Speedway heaven at 7 in Glorious Devon in Britain’s Ocean City

Image Credit: Daniel Westlake