Lakeside Hammers 56, Swindon Robins 33
LAKESIDE Hammers speedway team will celebrate their 25th anniversary by taking on Poole Pirates in the Sky Sports Elite League grand finale.

Both sides produced convincing victories in tonight's play-offs, Lakeside beating Swindon and Poole coming out 59-33 winners against Ipswich Pirates.

They will now meet in the two-leg final on the next two Mondays, starting at Lakeside next week.

And Hammers will end the season with the possibility of a wonderful double as they are due to meet Coventry in the two leg Craven Shield final later next month.

Seeking revenge for their only home league defeat of the season, Hammers were always in control at the Raceway, led superbly by Swedish Grand Prix ace Andreas Jonsson who achieved a maximum on the night, backed up by all the home riders.

The only downside came after the meet had been won when Kauko Nieminen fell in heat 12 and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone that could keep him out of the final, though Hammers might well be able to call on their other Swedish star, Swedish star Jonas Davidsson, who is close to fitness after a lengthy injury.

Hammers team manager Jon Cook was a delighted man, saying: “It’s fantastic to win, it’s been a great effort by the boys. Now we’ve got a huge meeting coming up and we will be looking at our strategy to do the same as we’ve done tonight.

“The boys have done us proud though.”

Pirates boss Neil Middleditch was also looking forward to the final, saying: “We’ve got to go to Lakeside, a tricky little track. I’ve been in this game too long to be over confident. We’ve got to go there and hold them tight, then bring them back to our track.”