2015 Premier League speedway season

2015 Premier League speedway season
ChampionsEdinburgh Monarchs
Knockout CupSomerset Rebels
Premier League CupEdinburgh Monarchs
IndividualUlrich Østergaard
PairsIpswich Witches
FoursEdinburgh Monarchs
Highest averageSimon Stead
Division/s above2015 Elite League
Division/s below2015 National League

The 2015 Premier League season was the second division of British speedway.[1]

Summary

took place between March and October 2015. The Edinburgh Monarchs were the defending champions after winning the championship in 2014. The 13 teams that competed remained unchanged from the teams who competed in 2014. There had been concerns about whether or not the Peterborough Panthers would be able to compete but their future was secured after being able to raise the money necessary to continue racing.[2]

In an all-Scottish final, the Edinburgh Monarchs became the first team to win consecutive Premier League titles, by beating the Glasgow Tigers in the Grand Final. The Tigers held a 7-point lead after the first leg at Ashfield, but the Monarchs won 14 of the 15 heats in the second leg at Armadale – winning 58–32 on the night – to win the tie overall 99–80.[3] It was one of three titles won by the Monarchs in 2015; in the Premier League Cup, the Monarchs beat the Tigers once again 100–79,[4] while the quartet of Craig Cook, Sam Masters, Erik Riss and Justin Sedgmen won the Premier League Fours.[5]

Aside from Edinburgh's successes, the Somerset Rebels defeated the Monarchs to win the Knockout Cup,[6] Daniel King and Rohan Tungate won the Premier League Pairs for the Ipswich Witches,[7] and Danish rider Ulrich Østergaard won the Premier League Riders' Championship for the Peterborough Panthers.[8][9]

Final league table

Pos. Club M Home Away F A +/− Pts
W D L 4W 3W D 1L L
1 Edinburgh Monarchs (Q) 24 10 0 2 6 1 1 2 2 1229 955 +274 61
2 Somerset Rebels (Q) 24 10 0 2 3 3 1 2 3 1188 998 +190 55
3 Glasgow Tigers (Q) 24 10 0 2 2 4 0 4 2 1122 999 +123 54
4 Peterborough Panthers (Q) 24 8 0 4 4 2 1 3 2 1104 1039 +65 51
5 Sheffield Tigers (Q) 24 10 1 1 2 3 0 1 6 1112 1062 +50 49
6 Plymouth Devils (Q) 24 10 0 2 2 1 1 0 8 1123 1074 +49 43
7 Ipswich Witches 24 7 2 3 0 5 0 4 3 1163 1023 +140 42
8 Workington Comets 24 12 0 0 0 0 1 0 11 1086 1116 −30 38
9 Newcastle Diamonds 24 8 0 4 0 1 0 0 11 1067 1129 −62 27
10 Berwick Bandits 24 6 1 5 1 0 0 1 10 1011 1173 −162 24
11 Scunthorpe Scorpions 24 7 0 5 0 0 1 1 10 999 1185 −186 24
12 Rye House Rockets 24 5 1 6 1 0 0 1 10 998 1166 −168 21
13 Redcar Bears 24 6 1 5 0 0 0 0 12 946 1229 −283 19

Fixtures & results

Home \ Away BER ED GLA IPS NEW PET PLY RED RYE SCU SHE SOM WOR
Berwick Bandits 38–54 57–35 42–48 55–37 41–49 45–45 52–38 64–29 46–44 41–42 37–56 50–43
Edinburgh Monarchs 61–32 42–48 53–37 52–40 44–45 64–28 65–28 59–34 53–39 60–31 55–35 56–36
Glasgow Tigers 58–34 39–51 47–45 52–41 31–29 52–41 62–28 42–20 57–33 53–40 42–47 53–36
Ipswich Witches 60–30 45–45 43–47 43–49 61–29 56–35 65–25 58–35 59–33 44–49 45–45 58–35
Newcastle Diamonds 53–37 42–48 46–43 48–43 44–46 56–36 61–31 52–40 60–33 41–48 42–48 53–39
Peterborough Panthers 51–39 41–49 48–45 44–46 51–41 43–47 51–41 55–37 54–36 53–37 39–53 56–36
Plymouth Devils 57–35 48–42 42–47 54–39 65–27 40–52 52–41 54–38 62–30 46–44 57–36 50–40
Redcar Bears 39–51 47–43 42–51 44–46 50–43 32–49 50–42 47–43 49–41 43–47 48–45 45–45
Rye House Rockets 52–40 40–52 39–51 44–46 55–38 41–52 38–53 58–32 45–45 37–50 50–42 51–42
Scunthorpe Scorpions 49–44 40–50 42–47 43–47 54–38 47–43 53–40 51–39 36–54 49–41 33–57 54–38
Sheffield Tigers 56–36 51–39 48–42 50–43 59–33 45–45 56–37 50–40 55–37 53–40 43–47 55–37
Somerset Rebels 58–32 42–51 58–32 48–42 51–39 57–35 38–52 55–38 51–39 52–38 63–29 59–34
Workington Comets 59–33 49–41 47–46 49–44 50–43 49–44 52–40 61–29 50–42 57–36 56–33 46–45
Source: [10]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

Quarter-finals

17 September 2015 Report Sheffield Tigers 44–46 Peterborough Panthers Owlerton Stadium
Referee(s):
Darren Hartley

27 September 2015 Report Peterborough Panthers 51–38 Sheffield Tigers East of England Showground
Referee(s):
Dale Entwistle

2 October 2015 Report Plymouth Devils 46–44 Glasgow Tigers St Boniface Arena
Referee(s):
Stuart Wilson

4 October 2015 Report Glasgow Tigers 56–34 Plymouth Devils Ashfield Stadium
Referee(s):
Phil Griffin

Semi-finals

4 October 2015 Report Peterborough Panthers 46–44 Edinburgh Monarchs East of England Showground
Referee(s):
Peter Clarke

9 October 2015 Report Edinburgh Monarchs 58–32 Peterborough Panthers Armadale Stadium
Referee(s):
Willie Dishington

9 October 2015 Report Somerset Rebels 48–42 Glasgow Tigers Oaktree Arena
Referee(s):
David Watters

11 October 2015 Report Glasgow Tigers 49–41 Somerset Rebels Ashfield Stadium
Referee(s):
Michael Breckon

Grand final

First leg

16 October 2015 Report Glasgow Tigers
Richard Lawson 13
James Sarjeant 12
Nick Morris 9
Victor Palovaara 7
Hynek Štichauer 4
Aaron Summers 3
Kauko Nieminen R/R 		48–41 Edinburgh Monarchs
Craig Cook 11
Kevin Wölbert 10
Justin Sedgman 7
Erik Riss 5
Sam Masters 5
Max Clegg 3
Robert Braniford 0 		Ashfield Stadium
Referee(s):
Chris Gay

Second leg

17 October 2015 Report Edinburgh Monarchs
Kevin Wölbert 13
Sam Masters 12
Craig Cook 9
Justin Sedgman 9
Max Clegg 8
Erik Riss 6
Liam Carr 1 		58–32 Glasgow Tigers
Richard Lawson 10
Nick Morris 9
James Sarjeant 5
Hynek Štichauer 5
Victor Palovaara 2
Theo Pijper 1
Aaron Summers R/R 		Armadale Stadium
Referee(s):
Dave Robinson

Premier League Knockout Cup

The 2015 Premier League Knockout Cup was the 48th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Somerset Rebels were the winners of the competition.[11]

First round

Date Team one Score Team two
28/06 Newcastle 63-26 Scunthorpe
05/06 Scunthorpe 53-37 Newcastle
18/06 Plymouth 47-41 Peterborough
25/05 Peterborough 46-44 Plymouth
22/05 Edinburgh 59-31 Sheffield
21/05 Sheffield 46-44 Edinburgh
17/05 Rye House 60-30 Workington
16/05 Workington 51-39 Rye House
21/05 Ipswich 46-44 Berwick
09/05 Berwick 47-43 Ipswich

Quarter-finals

Date Team one Score Team two
30/08 Newcastle 56-33 Glasgow
30/08 Glasgow 48-42 Newcastle
01/08 Edinburgh 61-29 Redcar
23/07 Redcar 37-35 Edinburgh
25/07 Berwick 40-50 Rye House
12/07 Rye House 42-48 Berwick
11/07 Plymouth 40-50 Somerset
10/07 Somerset 53-37 Plymouth

Semi-finals

Date Team one Score Team two
12/09 Rye House 43-47 Somerset
11/09 Somerset 60-30 Rye House
13/09 Newcastle 53-37 Edinburgh
04/09 Edinburgh 56-34 Newcastle

Final

First leg

Somerset Rebels
Richie Worrall 10
Paul Starke 10
Brady Kurtz 9
Josh Grajczonek 9
Rasmus Jensen 6
Charles Wright 3
Hynek Štichauer 2		49 – 41Edinburgh Monarchs
Craig Cook 15
Erik Riss 9
Sam Masters 8
Justin Sedgman 6
Robert Braniford 2
Ben Morley 1
Kevin Wölbert R/R
[9][12]

Second leg

Edinburgh Monarchs
Craig Cook 13
Sam Masters 11
Justin Sedgman 11
Robert Braniford 5
Erik Riss 4
Max Clegg 3
Kevin Wölbert R/R		47 – 43Somerset Rebels
Paul Starke 10
Rasmus Jensen 9
Richie Worrall 9
Josh Grajczonek 7
Charles Wright 6
Brady Kurtz 2
Luke Chessell (guest) 0
[9][13]

Edinburgh were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 92–88.

Riders' Championship

Ulrich Østergaard won the Riders' Championship. The final was held on 6 September at Owlerton Stadium.[14]

Pos. Rider Pts Total SF Final
1 Denmark Ulrich Østergaard 3 3 2 1 3 12 - 3
2 United States Ricky Wells 3 2 1 3 0 9 2 2
3 England Craig Cook 1 2 3 3 3 12 - 1
4 Australia Josh Grajczonek 2 2 3 3 0 10 3 0
5 Denmark Jonas B. Andersen 2 0 3 2 2 9 1
6 England Edward Kennett 3 2 1 2 3 11 0
7 Australia Sam Masters 2 3 2 ef 1 8
8 Australia Brady Kurtz 3 3 0 2 fx 8
9 England Jason Garrity 1 1 3 2 1 8
10 Australia Nick Morris 1 1 0 3 2 7
11 England Steve Worrall 0 1 1 1 3 6
12 Australia Rohan Tungate 2 0 2 0 1 5
13 England Richard Lawson 0 0 2 1 1 4
14 England Alex Davies r 1 1 0 2 4
15 England Kyle Newman 1 0 ef 1 2 4
16 Denmark Thomas Jørgensen 0 3 0 3
17 England Layne Cupitt (res) 0 0
18 England Rob Shuttleworth (res) 0 0
  • f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure t=touched tapes

Pairs

The Premier League Pairs Championship was held at Oaktree Arena on 3 July. The event was won by Ipswich Witches.[15][16]

Semi finals

  • Ipswich bt Redcar 7–2
  • Somerset bt Peterborough 7–2

Final

  • Ipswich bt Somerset 7–2

Fours

Edinburgh Monarchs won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, held on 1 October 2015, at the Media Prime Arena.[17] The original final was postponed following injury delays after the semi finals had been completed at the East of England Arena, on 2 August.

Final
Pos Team Pts Riders
1 Edinburgh 30 Cook 12, Sedgmen 8, Masters 7, Riss 3
2 Somerset 27 Kurtz 10, Grajczonek 7, Worrall 6, Wright 4
3 Ipswich 24 King 10, Tungate 6, Covatti 5, Manzares 2, Heeps 1
4 Newcastle 15 Aarnio 6, Rosen 4, Worrall 3, Lindgren 2

Final leading averages

[18]

Rider Team Average
England Simon Stead Sheffield 10.41
England Craig Cook Edinburgh 10.35
England Danny King Ipswich 9.54
England Richard Lawson Glasgow 9.12
Australia Sam Masters Edinburgh 8.98
Australia Brady Kurtz Somerset 8.73
England Oliver Allen Peterborough 8.51
Australia Josh Grajczonek Somerset 8.50
England Jason Garrity Sheffield 8.46
England Robert Lambert Peterborough/Rye House 8.38

Riders & final averages

Berwick Bandits

Edinburgh Monarchs

Glasgow Tigers

Ipswich Witches

Newcastle Diamonds

Peterborough Panthers

Plymouth Devils

Redcar Bears

Rye House Rockets

Scunthorpe Scorpions

Sheffield Tigers

Somerset Rebels

Workington Comets

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Mathias Thörnblom replaced Ben Barker for the twenty-first declaration of the season.[19]
  2. ^ a b Anders Mellgren replaced Alex Edberg for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  3. ^ a b Richard Hall replaced Luke Crang for the sixth declaration of the season.[21]
  4. ^ a b Hynek Štichauer replaced Matic Voldrih for the second declaration of the season.[22]
  5. ^ a b Coty García replaced Hynek Štichauer for the fifteenth declaration of the season.[23]
  6. ^ a b Kauko Nieminen replaced David Howe for the twenty-third declaration of the season.[24]
  7. ^ a b David Howe replaced Kozza Smith for the fifteenth declaration of the season.[23]
  8. ^ a b Hynek Štichauer replaced Dimitri Bergé for the twenty-third declaration of the season.[24]
  9. ^ a b Ashley Morris replaced Ritchie Hawkins for the seventeenth declaration of the season.[25]
  10. ^ a b Tero Aarnio replaced Lewis Rose for the twenty-first declaration of the season.[19]
  11. ^ a b Emil Grøndal replaced Oliver Allen for the nineteenth declaration of the season.[26]
  12. ^ a b Ben Barker replaced Robert Lambert for the twenty-eighth declaration of the season.[27]
  13. ^ a b Anders Thomsen replaced Lewis Blackbird for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  14. ^ a b Rafał Konopka replaced Oliver Greenwood for the eighteenth declaration of the season.[28]
  15. ^ a b Todd Kurtz replaced Ashley Morris for the tenth declaration of the season.[29]
  16. ^ a b Linus Eklöf replaced James Wright for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  17. ^ a b James Wright replaced Roland Benko for the twenty-third declaration of the season.[24]
  18. ^ a b Roland Benko replaced Sam Chapman for the thirteenth declaration of the season.[30]
  19. ^ a b Adam Roynon replaced Hugh Skidmore for the sixth declaration of the season.[21]
  20. ^ a b Jonas Andersen replaced Rafał Konopka for the fifteenth declaration of the season.[23]
  21. ^ a b Dimitri Bergé replaced Ben Morley for the twenty-third declaration of the season.[24]
  22. ^ a b Robert Lambert replaced Anders Mellgren for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  23. ^ a b Danny Maassen replaced Steve Boxall for the nineteenth declaration of the season.[26]
  24. ^ a b Dan Greenwood replaced Robin Aspegren for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  25. ^ a b Dan Greenwood replaced Luke Bowen for the fourth declaration of the season.[31] This change was reverted for the twentieth declaration.[32]
  26. ^ a b Zdeněk Holub replaced Josh Auty for the twenty-fifth declaration of the season.[33]
  27. ^ a b Ryan Douglas replaced David Howe for the ninth declaration of the season.[34]
  28. ^ a b Leigh Lanham replaced Ryan Douglas for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  29. ^ a b Andreas Lyager replaced Ben Wilson for the twenty-sixth declaration of the season.[35]
  30. ^ a b Ben Wilson replaced Ellis Perks for the ninth declaration of the season.[34]
  31. ^ a b Andre Compton replaced Simon Stead for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  32. ^ a b Jason Garrity replaced David Bellego for the second declaration of the season.[22]
  33. ^ a b David Bellego replaced Ty Proctor for the twelfth declaration of the season.[36]
  34. ^ a b Nicolai Klindt replaced Andre Compton for the twenty-fourth declaration of the season.[37]
  35. ^ a b Michele Paco Castagna replaced Ashley Birks for the twenty-third declaration of the season.[24]
  36. ^ a b Robin Aspegren replaced Arthur Sissis for the thirtieth declaration of the season.[20]
  37. ^ a b Rasmus Jensen replaced Leigh Lanham for the twenty-sixth declaration of the season.[35]
  38. ^ a b Oliver Greenwood replaced Benji Compton for the nineteenth declaration of the season.[26]

References

  1. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Panthers saved after reaching £40,000 survival target". Peterborough Telegraph. Johnston Press. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Edinburgh Monarchs retain speedway title". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  4. ^ Kinvig, David (27 September 2015). "Edinburgh Monarchs cruise to League Cup Final victory". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  5. ^ Brammer, Chris (2 October 2015). "Ipswich Witches finish third as Edinburgh Monarchs win Premier League Fours title". Ipswich Star. Archant. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Somerset Rebels win Premier League Knock-out Cup". Western Morning News. Local World. 3 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Heartbreak for Somerset Rebels as Ipswich Witches win pairs title". Western Morning News. Local World. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  8. ^ Pearson, Nigel (6 September 2015). "Ostergaard the shock winner of Riders' Championship at Owlerton". Sheffield Star. Sheffield Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "2015 results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  10. ^ "2015 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  11. ^ "2015 Premier League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
  12. ^ "KO Cup final 1st leg" (PDF). Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  13. ^ "KO Cup final 2nd leg" (PDF). Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  14. ^ "OSTERGAARD WINS PLRC". Sheffield Speedway. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  15. ^ "2015 fixtures" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  16. ^ "PAIR-FECTION FOR WITCHES". British Speedway. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  17. ^ "FOURS CHAMPIONS". Edinburgh Speedway. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Greensheet Averages" (PDF). Speedway GB.
  19. ^ a b "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 21" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 30" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  21. ^ a b "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 6" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  22. ^ a b "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 2" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  23. ^ a b c "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 15" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  24. ^ a b c d e "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 23" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  25. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 17" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  26. ^ a b c "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 19" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  27. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 28" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  28. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 18" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  29. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 10" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  30. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 13" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  31. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 4" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  32. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 20" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  33. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 25" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  34. ^ a b "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 9" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  35. ^ a b "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 26" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  36. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 12" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  37. ^ "2015 Premier League Team Declarations And Green Sheets Issue 24" (PDF). Premier League. Speedway GB. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.