New babies could rule out Watt and Jonsson (From Bournemouth Echo)

New babies could rule out Watt and Jonsson

7:00am Tuesday 5th August 2008 in

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PIRATES rider Davey Watt and his Lakeside counterpart Andreas Jonsson could both miss their mouth-watering top of the table clash because their partners are expecting babies.

Watt's wife Fiona, who he married at Gretna Green earlier this year, is due to go into labour with their second child tomorrow, the day Poole Castle Cover host the Hammers.

Jonsson's partner, meanwhile, is believed to be six days late, so both riders, who are understandably on tenterhooks, may have to miss the meeting.

Pirates chief Matt Ford said: "It's an amazing coincidence really, and it could end up being a speedway first.

"I don't recall two riders having missed the same meeting before because their partners have had babies on the same day.

"That would be quite extraordinary."

Ford, whose side are in a strong position to win the championship for the first time since 2004, added: "There's nothing we can do but wait because it's just one of those things.

"I'm just hoping Fiona delivers just before or just after our meeting against Lakeside, and if she can do it after our match at Blunsdon on Thursday so much the better!

"In all seriousness, the main thing is that everything goes okay with the birth, so if Davey has to miss the Lakeside or Swindon meetings we will use rider replacement to cover for him.

"I've asked the British Speedway Promoters' Association's management committee for the same dispensation given to Lakeside should there be a need for them to cover Andreas this week.

"Andreas is their number one so they can have a guest or rider replacement, whichever they choose, should his partner go into labour in the next couple of days.

"As Davey isn't our number one, the rules only allow us to go with rider replacement if he is absent.

"Davey and Andreas are continuing to ride, but they must both be on edge awaiting the births."

Pirates have their other six first choice riders lined up for duty in the two crunch matches in two days that could go along way to deciding their title fate.

Karol Zabik, who rode for Poole earlier in the season before being dropped in mid-April because of a loss of form and injury, will ride for Peterborough until the end of the season.

He also had a brief spell with Panthers in 2006 and makes his comeback for them at home to Coventry on Thursday.