Eagles in cup strife (From The Argus)

Eagles in cup strife

10:45pm Friday 27th March 2009 in Eagles news By Brian Owen

Eastbourne Eagles are hoping they have given themselves a glimmer of hope in their defence of the Knockout Cup.

But the holders still face a massive challenge to avoid first-round exit after taking a 57-38 battering at Lakeside tonight.

The sides meet in the second leg at Arlington tomorrow (Saturday, 7.30pm).

Skipper Davey Watt worked wonders to keep Eagles just about in the tie, winning four of his five races for 16 points from a possible 18.

Watt took white and black to lead a 7-2 in heat 11 after Lakeside had gone into a monumental 26-point lead at 44-18.

He then teamed up with Lewis Bridger for a heat 15 5-1 over Jonas Davidsson and Adam Shields.

However Lakeside, with several riders who know Arlington well, will expect to finish the job and avenge their semi-final defeat by Eastbourne last season.

Six of their riders were paid for at least two wins, Stuart Robson negated Eagles’ perceived advantage at reserve and Joonas Kylmakorpi was unbeaten by an opponent.

Eagles manager Trevor Geer said: “I thought we would keep it closer than we did but we aren’t out of this tie yet.

“Davey was getting out of the gate and doing the business but he was the only one really until Lewis came good at the end.

“It was all out of the gate. There wasn’t one overtake all night apart from in heat two.”

Simon Gustafsson went from last to first to win heat two and give Eagles a 7-5 lead.

However Lakeside hit back in style with seven 5-1s in the next eight heats.

Bridger was forced into second place by Kauko Niemenen when taking the first double-points ride but later had an excellent win over Lee Richardson in heat 12 to spoil the ex-Eagles skipper’s maximum.

David Norris and Cameron Woodward both had falls but Eagles report no injury worries for tomorrow’s meeting.

Lakeside: Richardson 11 (4), Robson 10+1 (5), Davidsson 9+3 (5), Niemenen 9+1 (4), Shields 9+1 (5), Kylmakorpi 8+4 (4), Mear 1 (3).

Eagles: Watt 16 (5)^, Bridger 10+1 (5)^, Gustafsson 8 (6), Norris 2 (4), Kling 1 (3), Woodward 1 (4), Dryml 0 (3).