Sandwell 70 Leicester 103
Powerful Leicester Monarchs with the more experienced riders, came to Tividale on Sunday (23 April) and went away with the points, after winning by 103 points to Sandwell Caterline/A.C.C. Lions 70.

The scoreline tells only one story, as this as a very exciting and hard match, and the riders of both teams put their hearts into a very enjoyable match. Referee Bob Prince, had a busy afternoon, with 7 exclusions in the 18 heats and 7 re-started races.

Sandwell gained a 5-4 win in the first heat,after Daniel Pike was excluded for moving at the tapes, and Jamie Ball and Tom Hibberd followed home Leicester's Polish star Lukascz Nowacki, but it was the only heat that Sandwell won before the Interval, with the scores at Sandwell 35 Leicester 53. In the second half Leicester again held the upper hand, with Sandwell only winning two heats.

If Sandwell are to do well in this top level of Cycle Speedway, they will have to learn a lot from teams like Leicester, and will have to be faster out of the gate and first bend, if they are to become as good as this Leicester side.

Sandwell: Jamie Ball 12+2, Tom Hibberd 12, David Ball 11, Paul Bird 10, Russ Evans 10,Jack Hibberd 7, Phil Hemming 5+2, Peter Clark 3.
Leicester: Lukascz Nowacki 18+2, Craig Merchant 16+1, Phil Howells 14+2, Mark Newey 14+2, Daniel Pike 14+2, Kevin Burns 12, Nicky Whitehead 11, Mark Whitehead 4.

Premier Combination Match
Sandwell 51 Leicester 79

Sandwell second team also lost to Leicester in this Combination match by 51 points to 79. Again this was a very exciting and enjoyable match with lots of good riding, and some very close racing, but as always this season, the Sandwell seconds are still learning the art of cycle speedway and in time, this side will produce some good riders.

Leicester have some very good kids, but all are light years ahead of Sandwell in experience and Leicester were good value for their win.

Sandwell: Lee Smith 11, Richard Barnett 10, Paul Heard 9, Danny Hill 6, Eric Simpkins 5+1, Jim Palmer 4, Ricky Johnson 3, Scott Millward 3.
Leicester: Carl Jervis 14+2, Declan Crouch 13+2, Ben Holloway 12+1,Tom Sensical 12, Ashley Doughty 11+2, Paul Hunt 8, Jake Hogan 5, Sam Jayes 3.