COVENTRY star Lewis Bridger collected double-figures in Monday’s Elite League Grand Final win over Poole - and feels the Bees have the ability to defend their 12-point lead in next week’s return fixture.

COVENTRY star Lewis Bridger collected double-figures in Monday’s Elite League Grand Final win over Poole - and feels the Bees have the ability to defend their 12-point lead in next week’s return fixture.

Bridger said: “We’ve got to forget about the 12 points, and go there and try to win. We’ve got to make starts, run no last places, and look for heat advantages.

“I like Poole, I had a bad one at the beginning of the year but I was terrible everywhere at that time, so I’ve put that one behind me. I had some really good ones there last year, so I know how to ride the place.”

EASTBOURNE are awaiting news of their opposition in the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup after putting rivals and holders Lakeside out of the competition.

The Eagles built up a 12-point lead in their home leg and then held the Hammers to a draw at Purfleet, and they now wait for the winners of the tie between Coventry and Wolverhampton.

PETERBOROUGH skipper Niels-Kristian Iversen believes the Panthers can gain some consolation for their Elite League disappointment in the Knockout Cup.

Panthers face Poole in the semi-finals, and Iversen said: “We have two big meetings now in the Knockout Cup, and I think that we can win them. Obviously Poole are the best team in the league, and will probably win the league, but if we get our heads together we can cause them trouble.

“We’ve got a bit of time until our next meeting so we have to regroup and hope that we can end the season on a high.”

POOLE boss Neil Middleditch is hopeful of reserve Jason Doyle being fit for the second leg of the Elite League Grand Final after he suffered further shoulder damage at Coventry on Monday.

Middleditch said: “Jason says he’s all right and that he has a week to rest his shoulder. He did knock it again in his second fall and we’ll have to see how it is.

“Although a 12-point deficit is a lot, it’s not insurmountable. But the boys are going to have to show that same fighting spirit again next week from the off.”

SWINDON owner Terry Russell has clarified that he intended Lee Richardson to be in the Robins’ plans for 2011 - until the rider submitted a transfer request.

Richardson cited family and sponsor reasons for making a permanent move to Lakeside.

Russell said: “Gary Patchett made it clear that there was no way Lee Richardson wouldn’t have a team place in 2011. He knew the day Leigh Adams retired we were bringing him back.”

WOLVERHAMPTON have confirmed that their next meeting at Monmore Green will be on October 11 - and depending on the outcome of their cup-tie at Coventry this week, it could be a double-header.

Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “We have Swindon in our final league meeting that night but I’m also hoping we will be running a double-header with a cup semi-final against Eastbourne on the same night.

“Because of the rain-off in our cup tie at Coventry last week we haven’t got enough time to sell and promote a meeting this Monday should we get through this Thursday in the re-arranged Coventry meeting.”