Scorpions eclipsed in terrific encounter

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SCORPIONS ECLIPSED BY CHAMPIONS IN TERRIFIC ENCOUNTER
SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 43 POOLE PIRATES 47 (Cab Direct Championship)

ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions gave it their all, but lost out to reigning champions Poole, as Pirates grabbed a 47-43 victory at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).

On a night of some spectacular racing, Scorpions provided 10 out of the 15 heat winners, including of the first seven races, but also ran 11 last places against the compact visitors and it proved costly.

Scorpions moved six points ahead in the early exchanges, while Ryan Douglas thwarted tactical substitute Richard Lawson in Heat 6, re-passing his opponent on the final lap after exciting race that had earlier seen a collision between Scorpions’ team-mates Douglas and Connor Mountain on the fourth bend.

Douglas, skipper Simon Lambert and Jake Allen all won their opening two outings, with Allen just hanging on in a photo-finish in Heat 7, after a late challenge from Zach Cook.

The turning point of the meeting was arguably Heat 8, when Sam Hagon moved from fourth to second to join Kyle Newman for an unexpected 5-1 – the only maximum for either team all night.

Scorpions moved four points ahead after Michael Palm Toft – on his return from injury – won Heat 9, while Steve Worrall came on top for second place, despite a huge effort from Lambert which twice took him past his opponent, only for the Pirate to come out on top.

Douglas – who had also scored an 18-point maximum at Poole in May – was finally beaten by a Pirate in Heat 10, after Ben Cook flew around him with a lap to go. After Allen held out Lawson in another tight finish in Heat 11, Pirates levelled the scores with an element of good fortune after Scorpions’ guest Steve Boxall suffered a last lap puncture while third in Heat 12.

Pirates pulled 40-38 ahead with a 4-2 in Heat 13, despite a massive effort from Douglas, who lifted in a final attempt to try to pass Worrall on the final bend. Palm Toft won Heat 14, but Zach Cook and Hagon moved past Boxall in the opening stages.

Scorpions needed a 5-1 from Heat 15 to win or a 4-2 to force a Superheat. Allen was first to show, but Lawson moved around him on the opening lap. Douglas set off in pursuit and was close to passing Lawson. But the Pirate held on, while Ben Cook snatched third from Allen in a photo-finish on the line, as Poole finished with a 4-2.

Scunthorpe skipper Simon Lambert said: “At the end of the day, we lost to the better team on the night. We didn’t have a lot of luck, Steve Boxall’s puncture in Heat 12 turned a 3-3 to a 4-2 to Poole and allowed them to level the scores.

“It was a bit of a reality check for us all – but you can’t win them all. Poole are a good side, they always have a good side, but I also believe this is the best Scunthorpe team for a few years.

“We do now have seven fit riders, although we were missing Drew (Kemp) today as he was on duty with Great Britain. We need a meeting when all of us fire at the same time. Nathan (Ablitt) is beating himself up after tonight’s meeting, but he shouldn’t, because he’s been a revelation over the last month or so.

“We do need consistency from us all. I still believe this team can win the play-offs if all seven of us hit the jackpot at the same time. We should still make the play-offs; we’ve just got a little work to do. We’ll reset and go again at Birmingham a week on Wednesday when we’ll have seven of our own riders for the first time in a while and our season starts there and we’ll be looking to pick ourselves up and win that meeting.”

SCUNTHORPE 43: Ryan Douglas 12, Simon Lambert 9, Jake Allen 9, Michael Palm Toft 7, Steve Boxall 4, Connor Mountain 2, Nathan Ablitt 0.
POOLE 47: Richard Lawson 12, Ben Cook 9+2, Steve Worrall 8+1, Zach Cook 7, Sam Hagon 5+2, Kyle Newman 4+1, Alfie Bowtell 2+1.
Poole won aggregate point by 96-84

* ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions in next in action at Birmingham on August 23, before they host Glasgow Tigers at the Eddie Wright Raceway in a fortnight on Friday, August 25 (7.30pm).

REPORT by Rob Peasley
PHOTO: Attis Insurance Scorpions on parade (PIC: IAN RISPIN)