Glasgow v Newport - Knockout Cup Final

Glasgow Tigers v Newport Wasps
Sunday 2nd October, 2011 at 4pm
Knock Out Cup Final  - Second Leg

Up Front

Today we have the chance to win our first national title for seventeen years.  1994 proved to be a very successful season for Glasgow as we won the League and Knock Out Cup and we have the opportunity to do that again this year.

We are not counting our chickens just yet as far as the league is concerned' while even we admit we are hot favourites, nothing has been secured.  Last Monday we took on our greatest rivals for the title in what was billed as something of a grudge fixture.  We knew that a win would just about do the job and thankfully we managed to come away with all three points in a tough encounter.  Yes we are almost there but for the past few days we have been focussing on this weekend and the Cup Final.

Although we may be top of the league and Newport may be in the bottom half of the league, many observers feel that Newport start as slight favourites and to be honest we probably agree with that.  They made a dreadful start to the season but that led to some significant team changes and now they have one of the best teams in the league.  Hopefully we will have kept things quite tight yesterday in the opening leg and give ourselves a chance to win the Cup today, but more importantly let's hope both sides have come through yesterday without any injuries and have two full strength teams taking part today.  

So often in October our season is drifting towards an uninspired climax, but this year is completely different as we have a string of exciting fixtures to complete our season.  Next week we will probably be racing against Somerset or Scunthorpe in a double header and it looks likely that next Sunday could be when we secure the league title, so we hope that you will turn out in force to see us reach the holy grail of the title.  At the time of writing, we are still awaiting official confirmation that it will be a double header and we will announce for definite today.  If it is, then we will be starting at 1.30pm rather than 4pm as we need to get through both meetings.  The following week we are definitely racing two in a day against Newport and again will start at 1.30pm.

We'd like to thank you for your brilliant support on Monday night.  It was one of the best atmospheres we have seen at Ashfield since it re opened to speedway in 1999 and we are sure that the riders responded to that.  It was a very significant win, one that we were desperate to achieve but now it's all about today.

Welcome to everyone from Newport here today, we're sure that it will be like old times again, with the hordes of yellow clad fans arriving to make a lot of noise.  Newport's visits used to be one of the best nights of the year previously and it's a shame the Wasps seem to be going through a very tough period at the moment.  We hope that this final gives an opportunity to reignite the sport in the city and that they can get back to their former glories, they deserve that.  

Just before we wish both teams well on this great occasion, let's glance forward to the 26th of November as Steve Lawson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.  He is a worthy first choice and we'll listen with interest as to the identity of other two inductees, but what is guaranteed is a great night and you should all come along to Hampden if you can.  

So now it's almost time to get this showpiece event up and running.  We wish both teams well and hope for a great final but obviously we would love to see Captain Joe with  his hands on the trophy come the end of heat fifteen!

Meet the Visitors
Newport Wasps

Newport Wasps were to be the first league visitors at Ashfield this year, but the winter track work meant the fixture had to be rescheduled and they make their first visit in this Knockout Cup Final.

Robin Aspegren
Born: Vetlanda, Sweden on 24.3.1989
Joined Newport midway through 2010 as a temporary replacement for compatriot Anders Mellgren but kept his place in the line up when Mellgren's anticipated return was put on hold after a setback in Sweden. Missed a couple of weeks this season with a foot injury.

Jason Doyle
Born: Newcastle, NSW, Australia on 6.10.1985
Started 2011 without a UK berth but was temporarily drafted into Rye House line up then joined the Wasps in May and doubles up with Elite League leaders Poole. Helped Glasgow to a victory at Ipswich in July as a guest for Joe Screen.

Charlie Gjedde
Born: Holstebro, Denmark on 28.12.1979
Began the season with Berwick but a string of uncharacteristically low scores led to a parting of the ways ad he joined the Wasps in June, scoring a maximum on his debut, against the Tigers. Pulled out of the PLRC at Sheffield after two pointless rides.

Mark Jones
Born: Albury, NSW, Australia on 2.12.1986
Spent the best part of two years with Newport's Conference League side the Hornets, before joining the Wasps for 2011. Lost his place in May but was only out for a week in one of the many team changes rung by the Newport management this year.

Todd Kurtz
Born: Cowra, NSW, Australia on 4.11.1992
Rode for the Hornets in a short spell in 2009 and returned to Wales with both the Hornets and Wasps last season. Has continued to ride for both sides this season in addition to occasional outings with Coventry in the Elite League alongside Nick Morris.

Leigh Lanham
Born: Ipswich, England on 15.8.1977
Joined the Wasps in July 2009 and returned as Wasps captain for his second full season having spent the bulk of his career with Arena Essex/Lakeside and hometown club Ipswich. Doubled up with Belle Vue last year but concentrating on PL duties in 2011.

Anders Mellgren
Born: Hagfors, Sweden on 22.6.1991
Rode for Newport last season before injury ruled him out but returned this April as a short term replacement. Joined Somerset as cover for the injured Dakota North but re joined the Wasps in August replacing Justin Sedgmen.

This is the second occasion that the sides have met in the competition but you need to look right back to 1964 to find the first meeting ...