Battling Scorpions pick up away point

PLYMOUTH GLADIATORS 48 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 42 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions came from 14 points behind to take a league point at Plymouth last night (Tuesday), with the meeting eventually ending with a scoreline of 48-42 to the Plymouth Gladiators.

Plymouth had crushed league leaders Leicester by 60-30 the previous week, but they found themselves given a much tougher test by Scorpions.

The opening three races were shared, although the home side did start to pull ahead, until the scoreline was 37-23 after 10 races.

Scorpions took their first heat advantage with a 4-2 in Heat 11, with Ryan Douglas beating Hans Andersen, while Ryan Kinsley took a precious point ahead of Henry Atkins.

Team manager Rob Godfrey – standing in for the unavailable Dave Peet – saved his tactical substitute until Heat 12, where Douglas and Zaine Kennedy further reduced the deficit with another 4-2.

Gladiators sealed the victory with a 4-2 of their own in Heat 13, but a 5-1 from Tero Aarnio and Kennedy in Heat 14 gave Scorpions the real chance of a point.

Scorpions needed a heat advantage from Heat 15, and Aarnio streaked away to win from Plymouth guest Richard Lawson, while Douglas held back Andersen, as a 4-2 was gained.

Speaking post-meeting, stand-in manager Rob Godfrey said: “To get a point at Plymouth does feel like a win, especially considering we were 14 points down with five races to go and still 12 down with just a couple of races remaining. It’s also good because we know how good Plymouth are around here – they destroyed Leicester last week.

“It was a team effort, with everyone willing each other on, whether they scored well or not. And the point that Ryan Kinsley got in his final outing proved very important.

“I was considering using Jake Allen alongside Ryan Douglas in Heat 15, but Tero (Aarnio) told me he could do it and he produced a superb ride off the outside gate to win the race, while Ryan held out Hans Andersen for the point.

“So far this year, there’s been a lot of big home victories in our league, so to come here, at such a tricky track, and gain a point is hugely morale-boosting for us.

“I had a plan from Heat 8 onwards to get a point and it worked – I decided to hold back on the tactical substitute. Furthermore, what really encouraged me was that I could look down the rest of the programme and see how we could pick up the points we needed from the final races. That hasn’t necessarily been the case in previous seasons away from home and it convinces me that we could be in a good year for Scunthorpe Speedway.

“We know that Friday isn’t going to be easy, when Plymouth come back up to the Eddie Wright Raceway, because they are a quality side. But having picked up a point at their place, I’m convinced that we can beat them at home.”

PLYMOUTH 48: Hans Andersen 11+1, Richard Lawson 10+2, Alfie Bowtell 9+1, Dan Gilkes 8+1, Ben Barker 8, Henry Atkins 2+1, Michael Palm Toft r/r.
SCUNTHORPE 42: Ryan Douglas 14, Tero Aarnio 11, Zaine Kennedy 8+1, Jake Allen 7, Jordan Palin 1+1, Ryan Kinsley 1, Simon Lambert 0.

* ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions entertain Plymouth Gladiators in the return fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceday on Friday (7.30pm).

PHOTO: Tero Aarnio (PIC BY IAN RISPIN).