Scorpions show fighting spirit to win group

REDCAR BEARS 49 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 41 (BSN Series – Northern)

ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions grabbed the aggregate bonus point and secured their place in the semi-finals of the BSN Series after a thrilling last-heat decider at Redcar last night (Friday).

Redcar Bears won 49-41 on the evening, but Scorpions won 91-89 on aggregate to win the Northern Group on eight points, one more than Redcar can achieve with a home victory over Birmingham in their closing match next week.

In a see-saw meeting, Scorpions took a 21-15 advantage, but Bears then took the lead and levelled on aggregate with a 5-1 in Heat 13 that took them 44-34 ahead. Unusually both sides used a tactical substitute during the meeting – Redcar in Heat 7 and Scunthorpe in Heat 11.

Jake Allen, who overtook Danyon Hume, and guest Adam Roynon took a 4-2 from Heat 14 to place Scorpions back in front on aggregate by two points.

Both Redcar riders were unbeaten going into Heat 15. But while Charles Wright completed an 18-point maximum, Ryan Douglas and Michael Palm Toft settled in second and third for the 3-3 that Scorpions required, with Danny King trailing in last.

Speaking post-meeting, Scunthorpe team manager Dave Peet said: “Redcar are a strong team around their home track and it was always going to be a tricky meeting tonight.

“Even when we took the lead, I knew there was every possibility that they would come back at us. During the meeting, our focus changed from winning the meeting to making sure we got to 41 points.

“I had to try to maximum our points in each race. Simon Lambert rode well for us tonight, but I felt I had to use Michael (Palm Toft) as the tactical sub in Heat 11, because Charles Wright was out in the next one and he was looking unstoppable.

“Everyone contributed and it was a team effort to reach those 41 points and the boys showed plenty of resilience and dug in during the final two races.

“I felt we still had options in Heat 15, and it proved the case. Ryan (Douglas) and Michael did the job and it never looked like it was going to be anything less than a 3-3 to us – in fact, it looked more like it could be a 4-2 to us than them, since Ryan pushed Charles Wright for the win.

“We set out from Day One to win our mini-league and reach the semi-finals of the BSN Series and that’s what we’ve achieved. It shows that we can fight it out with the best of them this season and come out on top.”

REDCAR 49: Charles Wright 18, Danny King 10+2, Richard Lawson 9, Jason Edwards 7, Connor Bailey 3+1, Danyon Hume 2, Jake Mulford 0.
SCUNTHORPE 41: Ryan Douglas 10 (pictured), Michael Palm Toft 9+2, Simon Lambert 5+2, Jake Allen 5+1, Adam Roynon 5+1, Connor Mountain 5, Joe Thompson 2+2.
Scunthorpe win the aggregate bonus point by 91-89

* THE next meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway is next Friday (May 5, 7.30pm) when Attis Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions host the Birmingham Brummies in the concluding leg of a Knockout Cup quarter-final tie. In a busy week, they are involved in four meetings, including opening their Cab Direct Championship league matches at Plymouth on Tuesday.

Full schedule: Tuesday, May 2 – Plymouth v Scunthorpe (Cab Direct Championship), Wednesday, May 3 – Birmingham v Scunthorpe (Knockout Cup), Friday, May 5 -Scunthorpe v Birmingham (Knockout Cup), Saturday, May 6 – Berwick v Scunthorpe (Cab Direct Championship).