Scorpions chasing away victory

SECOND-PLACED Attis Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions are chasing their first away victory of the season at Newcastle’s Brough Park stadium this afternoon (Sunday, 4pm).

Scorpions have won all six home meetings in the Championship, but both the management and riders realise that the side also need to pick up points away from home if their play-off push is to be successful.

If Scunthorpe do win today and Glasgow Tigers lose their meeting at Eastbourne, there’s a possibility that Scorpions could go top of the table. Currently, Tigers have 20 points and Scunthorpe are two points behind on 18 points.

Newcastle have staged two home meetings in 2021. They lost 38-52 to Edinburgh in a Knockout Cup match, but then picked an impressive 49-41 league victory over reigning champions Leicester, so they cannot be under-estimated, despite currently bringing up the rear in the Championship table.

Tero Aarnio said: “I live in Newcastle and it’s like my second home behind Finland. I always get a very warm reception when I return there to ride, even when I’m riding for the away team, which is nice.

“I think we have a good chance to win the meeting. Thomas (Jorgensen) rode for Newcastle and so did I. Adam (Ellis) scores well on the tight tracks and Theo (Pijper) is a track specialist around the tighter tracks.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who can score points around there, and possibly we’ve caught Newcastle at the right stage of the season.”

Attis Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions’ expected team: 1. Adam Ellis, 2. Simon Lambert (captain), 3. Theo Pijper, 4. Tero Aarnio, 5. Thomas Jorgensen, 6. Josh MacDonald, 7. Jordan Palin.

PHOTO: The new-look 2021 Attis Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions (pic by IAN RISPIN).