Allen returns to bolster Scorpions

EASTBOURNE EAGLES 56 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 34 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

DEPLETED HEB Scunthorpe Scorpions crashed to a 34-56 defeat at Eastbourne last night (Saturday) – but the good news is that Jake Allen is set to return from his troublesome shoulder injury to bolster Scorpions’ hopes in the Championship Fours at Peterborough this afternoon (Sunday, 2pm).

The damage was done at Arlington in the first five races, with Scunthorpe going 18 points down.

Scorpions made the scoreline respectable with a couple of 5-1s in the closing stages, with guest Broc Nicol top scoring with 15 points from 7 rides, while Stefan Nielsen weighed in with 7+1. Edward Kennett scored a paid maximum for Eagles.

Scorpions’ team manager Dave Peet said: “It took us a while to get dialled into the track at Eastbourne. To begin with, we were not getting out of the starts. Once we started matching them to the first turn, we did OK.

“Broc Nicol did a great job as our guest, and he was up for taking all seven of his rides.”

EASTBOURNE 56: Edward Kennett 14+1, Richard Lawson 13, Lewis Kerr 8, Ben Morley 7+1, Kyle Newman 6+3, Georgie Wood 5, Alfie Bowtell 3+1.
SCUNTHORPE 34: Broc Nicol 15, Stefan Nielsen 7+1, Danny Ayres 5+1, Josh Auty 4+1, Ryan Kinsley 3+1, Richard Andrews 0, Jake Allen R/R.

Looking forward to the big afternoon at Peterborough, Peet says: “We’ve got four riders capable of scoring consistently, and that’s the key to this event.

“Obviously, it’s going to be Jake’s first meeting back, after taking out extra time with his dislocated shoulder, but I think Peterborough is a good track for him to make a comeback, because it shouldn’t put too much strain on the injury.

“We’re lining up: 1. Stefan Nielsen. 2, Danny Ayres, 3. Josh Auty, and 4. Jake Allen (with Ryan Kinsley as the reserve). It’s the opposite way around to most teams, who have their top riders at No 1 and No 2. But we think we’re better off this way around – time will tell if it proves a masterstroke.”