Hammers boss, Stuart Douglas, was glued to the live Sky Sports Speedway last night (Monday) in the hope that the play off picture became a little clearer. Already successfully into the play off semi final themselves, with the crucial home leg gained as a result of the successful season long campaign, the Hammers are still waiting to see who will be their opponents next Monday 29th September at the Arena-Essex Raceway.
The outcome of Monday’s Coventry Bees versus Swindon Robins, and Peterborough Panthers versus Ipswich Witches meetings both resulted in home wins and that means that Swindon look more likely to finish in third place over Ipswich and are, therefore, likely to face the Hammers in the play off semi final.
"Above all, I'm just proud that this Club has proven what an amazing sport Speedway can be - transforming from basement boys to Elite League Championship contenders in just two short years," said Douglas. "Now we are here, I'd like to try to go all the way and win the title. Who we draw in next Monday's history defining meeting will play a massive part in that. Professionally I am duty bound to say that I don't mind who we face, but I know the fans are eager to gain revenge on Swindon for the shock defeat they inflicted upon us earlier in the year - our only home League defeat of the entire campaign," grinned the Hammers chief.
The fans are likely to get their way unless Ipswich win both of their home matches in a double header this Thursday when they face Poole and then Coventry. That will put the Witches level on League points with the Robins but Swindon have a superior race points differential. Ipswich will need to improve their race points differential by at least 35 points over the two matches to overtake the Robins for third place.
"Whoever comes, they will find us in determined spirit. We feel we have earned this," asserted Douglas.
Hammers co-promoter and team boss, Jon Cook, commented following last night’s results saying: "The likelihood is that it will be Swindon - Ipswich have it stacked against them a bit - and that draw is fine in my book. I find it faintly amusing that everyone is angling to finish third to ensure drawing us in the semis. Swindon are clearly confident after their previous visit here, yet we have shown by sitting on the same points as Poole at the top of the table that we are a phenomenal team, and that is set against the backdrop of losing three of our top riders to serious injury. We will go into this match with only three of our original seven and if that makes us underdogs, then that's fine. Those three, along with the new riders that have come in, are extremely well prepared for this meeting, and it will be a great pleasure to cross swords again with either the Robins or the Witches."
Whoever the opponents are for the Lakeside Hammers next Monday it is going to be the biggest match, so far, in the Club’s 25 year history. A large crowd is anticipated and supporters are, therefore, urged to turn up early for what will be a 7.30pm start.
More information on the Hammers:
lakesidehammers.co.uk
