Super Scorpions bounce back in style
EDINBURGH MONARCHS 36 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 54 (Cab Direct Championship Play-Off)
ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions completed their Cab Direct Championship play-off group matches with a resounding 54-36 victory at Edinburgh last night (Saturday) to reclaim top spot in their group.
After the bitter disappointment of losing 40-50 at home to reigning champions Poole Pirates on Friday evening, this was an impressive response from Scorpions. Pirates are still hot favourites to win Group A – they require just one victory out of two against Edinburgh in their remaining fixtures to secure top spot and progress to the play-off final.
The meeting at Armadale was effectively over as a contest after eight races, at which point the scoreline stood at 32-16 in favour of Scorpions over the Edinburgh Monarchs.
Ryan Douglas top scored with 13+1 and overtook Kye Thomson to win Heat 5. Douglas only dropped a point in Heat 11, when he was overhauled by Josh Pickering. Victory on the night was assured after a 5-1 from Douglas and Michael Palm Toft in Heat 13.
But this was a fine all-round performance by Scorpions, who only registered two last places in 15 races. Palm Toft (10) and Drew Kemp (9+2) were also paid for double figures.
Jake Allen scored 6+2, despite further mechanical woes in Heat 10. He just managed to cross the line in second place in a 5-1 with Simon Lambert, but the Australian blew his second engine in two days and withdrew from his final ride in Heat 14.
Former Scunthorpe team manager Richard Hollingsworth stood in for the night and he said: “What a privilege it was to manage the Scorpions again tonight.
“While the riders were great on track, and won handsomely away from home, it was off the bikes that they impressed me the most. They worked together as a team, helped and supported each other and made the experience enjoyable for me and hopefully for everyone else involved.
“The mechanics, some of whom I know well but others whose names I don’t know, were great contributors too.
“I’d like to think if there is any justice in the world, then the riders will make it to the cup final, dish out some revenge over Poole and claim the silverware they so deserve.”
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF (GROUP A)
EDINBURGH 36: Josh Pickering 12, Kye Thomson 9+2, Justin Sedgmen 6, Paco Castagna 6, Batian Borke 3, Lasse Fredriksson 0, Dayle Wood 0.
SCUNTHORPE 54: Ryan Douglas 13+1, Michael Palm Toft 10, Drew Kemp 9+2, Simon Lambert 7, Jake Allen 6+2, Connor Mountain 6+1, Nathan Ablitt 3+1.
Scunthorpe win the aggregate point by 113-67.
* ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are next in action at the Eddie Wright Raceway in the first leg of their Knockout Cup semi-final clash with Redcar on Friday (September 29) at 7.30pm.
