Simon Lambert: “It’s now or never!”
ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are looking to book their place in the final of the Championship Knockout Cup in the second and concluding leg of their semi-final at Redcar tonight (Friday) at 7.30pm.
Scunthorpe head to the Ecco Arena with an 18-point advantage, following a 54-36 victory in the first leg at the Eddie Wright Raceway last Friday. Scorpions have scored 41 and 42 from their two previous visits to Redcar in 2023.
Scorpions have never won the Knockout Cup at second-tier level, with their best result as runners-up to Workington in 2018.
If Scorpions reach the final, they will face the Poole Pirates, the team who defeated them in Group A of the Cab Direct Championship play-offs.
Scunthorpe skipper Simon Lambert says: “First of all, we’ve got to finish the job against Redcar. We’ve got a decent lead, but it’s only half time. But we’d like to win the meeting at Redcar, to put out a statement to Poole – we owe them one, for sure.
“It’s now or never – we’ve got to get past Redcar and then need to beat Poole in the final. We missed out on silverware in the league, but there’s no reason why we can’t win the cup. That’s what we want to do – we want to win silverware.
“Poole beat us in the play-offs. That was our own doing really. We got ourselves in a strong position by holding the Pirates at their place, but then threw it away in the meeting at home – we had one of those nights at Scunthorpe against Poole. But that’s life and we want another go at Poole in the final.
“We’ve got a strong team from one-to-seven and we know what we’re capable of. We’ve got a good team from Dougie (Ryan Douglas) at No 1, who is pretty much the best rider in this league, down to Drew (Kemp) and Nathan (Ablitt) at reserve.
“Nathan has got better week-by-week. I like riders who give 110% and Nathan gives 120%. He’s improving week-by-week – he can gate, he can pass. He occasionally throws some silly points away, but he’s young and he’s learning. He’s not afraid to ask question and I like that about him. He’s got a good family behind him – he does a lot of travelling to meetings and he’s committed. I like the kid and he’s going to be a good speedway rider.”
Lambert, aged 34, has enjoyed a fine season. He rode in the British Final, where he won two races and was a single point away from reaching the knockout heats. His blistering form for Scorpions saw him also awarded a team spot at top-flight King’s Lynn.
He adds: “I’ve had off-track issues for the last year, but that’s now all resolved and sorted. My release has been my speedway and maybe it’s made me a proper speedway rider. I’ve had some great friends and family behind me, and I appreciate them so much.
“We’ve got plans for next year already. I feel like an 18-year-old kid again. Those gaps that weren’t there are now there again. I want to do both leagues again next year, plus I want to do Poland and ride elsewhere on the continent. I’m riding the best I’ve ever have ridden, and I’ve got sponsors coming back to me already, before I’ve contacted them, and I’m so grateful to them and I will look after them.
“In the meantime, I’m so proud of this Scunthorpe team and I’m so proud to be captain. We want to finish this season on a high and I really believe we can do that and that starts with a big performance at Redcar.”
Expected teams for tonight (Friday):
Redcar Bears: 1. Danny King, 2. Danyon Hume, 3. Connor Bailey, 4. Leon Flint, 5. Erik Riss, 6. Jason Edwards, 7. Luke Harrison.
Attis Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Connor Mountain, 3. Simon Lambert (captain), 4. Jake Allen, 5. Michael Palm Toft, 6. Nathan Ablitt, 7. Drew Kemp.
