Scorpions denied in final heat drama at Kent

KENT KINGS 46 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 44 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions suffered a blow to their play-off chances when they suffered the agony of a last-heat defeat at Kent’s Central Park stadium last night (Tuesday), despite holding a 10-point lead with only four heats remaining, as Kent Kings prevailed by 46-44.

Scorpions were still two points to the good entering Heat 15. There was a ragged start, where they appeared to be more than one rider moving. The referee halted the race and decreed that Scorpions’ guest Broc Nicol, who had hit the first bend in front, was solely at fault and handed him a warning, but not the other riders who were moving.

The American had already received a warning in Heat 3 and therefore was excluded for a second offence.

Josh MacDonald (pictured) was placed into the re-run as a reserve and joined Adam Ellis in representing Scorpions.

MacDonald tried his hardest, but the experience of Scott Nicholls saw him hold off the Australian in the early stages and join Troy Batchelor for a 5-1, as Kings took the lead for the first time on the night at the right time.

It is a disappointing end to a fabulous effort from Scorpions to take a crucial away victory.

They took the lead with a 5-1 from MacDonald and Lambert in Heat 2, and had extended their advantage to six points, after successive 4-2s in Heats 6 and 7.

When Kings struck back with a 5-1 in Heat 8, Scorpions simply hit back with a 5-1 of their own in Heat 9, courtesy of Nicol and MacDonald.

Kings placed Nicholls into Heat 10 as a tactical sub. But the move fell flat, when Batchelor came to grief and then Nicol defeated Nicholls in the re-run, with MacDonald again playing a lively role in this race, as Scorpions further opened the gap with a 4-2.

And that advantage was extended to ten points with a 4-2 in Heat 11, when Adam Ellis defeated Nicholls and Jack Thomas took third, while Kings’ Dan Gilkes was put back 15 metres for tape touching in this race, although it’s debatable whether he did.

Heat 12 saw MacDonald right in contention with the Kings’ pair, but Paul Starke made the telling move on the final lap as he came through to join Gilkes for a 5-1.

A further 5-1 to Kings in Heat 13 reduced the gap to two points. Scorpions had a chance to clinch the meeting in Heat 14. But while Nicol won his fourth successive race, Lambert lost too much ground on the second bend and the race finished as a 3-3.

Then came the final blow for Scorpions in the final race, as victory slipped from their grasp.

Guest rider Broc Nicol, who topped scored for Scorpions with 14 points, said: “It’s a bit annoying what happened in the last heat. I already had a warning from jumping in my first ride.

“In Heat 15, the rider off gate one (Troy Batchelor) moved at the start. Of course, at the moment, we’ll all focused on making the start, so as soon as something else moves on the inside of you, you go as well. It feels like it was someone else’s mistake, because they were the one who moved first and they should get the warning, but I’ve got penalised for that and combined with my previous warning, it means that I got excluded from the race.

“Until then, things were on point. I dropped a point in my first ride, but after that I was making every start and feeling great and feeling confident.

“We needed three points from the last race to win the meeting and I wanted to seal the win for Scunthorpe. But these things happen.

“I like riding around this place, while I’ve enjoyed guest riding for Scunthorpe a couple of times – I get on well with the management and I thank them for booking me.”

Josh MacDonald (who scored 10+1) said: “It’s not great to lose when we had the lead that we did. But it is what it is and not many teams have come close to Kent around here since they strengthened their side. They came back at us in the end, so fair play to them.

“With Scott Nicholls in Heat 15, he didn’t give me much room on the back straight, although he gave me enough to stay on. To be honest, I’d have done the same thing. I tried everything I could, but just fell short.

“We knew it would be tough coming here. The one league point we did get tonight may prove crucial, but when you’re looking at maybe coming away with four with just a few races to go, of course it’s disappointing to get just one.

“But if we can combine the point we took tonight with a win over Poole at home on Friday, then that could be enough. I was lined up to ride for Poole this season, before there was a rule change and I couldn’t go, so on Friday I’ve got a chance to show them what they missed out on.

“I wasn’t happy with my gating earlier in the season. But I’ve changed some things back in the last few meetings and my gating has been a lot better. I’m now making more starts than I’m missing and it’s just about winning more races, but it’s all heading in the right direction.”

KENT 46: Scott Nicholls 14+1, Troy Batchelor 10+1, Paul Starke 8+1, Dan Gilkes 7, Cameron Heeps 3, Ben Morley 2+1, Jake Mulford 2+1.
SCUNTHORPE 44: Broc Nicol 14, Josh MacDonald 10+1, Adam Ellis 9+1, Simon Lambert 5+1, Jack Thomas 4+1, Theo Pijper 2+1, Thomas Jorgensen r/r.

* ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions host league leaders Poole Pirates at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (September 10th, 7.30pm) in their last regular league match, in a must-win encounter.