PREVIEW: BELLE VUE v EASTBOURNE (NDL)

BELLE Vue and Eastbourne both bid to bounce back from recent defeats in tonight’s (Friday) NDL clash at the National Speedway Stadium.

The Colts were beaten at home by Kent last time out, whilst the Seagulls went down to a home defeat against Leicester.

The home side have Jack Smith racing for his old club as a guest for Benji Compton, who is out with a wrist injury, and are boosted by the return of Sam McGurk after a spell on the sidelines – as brother Harry moves into the main body of the team.

The visitors have Nathan Ablitt back from injury, skipper Richard Andrews returns, and Vinnie Joe Foord makes his second appearance as Nick Laurence is absent for family reasons.

Colts co-boss Steve Williams said: “Losing Benji with that wrist injury wasn’t ideal but we’re confident that Jack will do a superb job, and we’re also delighted to have Sam back with us.

“This is a development league first and foremost, but the boys want to be successful and we want them to be successful, and we have two teams on paper that are evenly matched.

“We won’t be taking Eastbourne for granted. They’ve got some experienced big hitters in their side and we’re sure it will be a very exciting match.”

BELLE VUE: Jack Smith, Harry McGurk, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, Paul Bowen, Connor Coles, Sam McGurk, Ben Woodhull.
EASTBOURNE: Jake Knight, Connor King, Joe Alcock, Danno Verge, Richard Andrews, Vinnie Joe Foord, Nathan Ablitt.