Cup Final Preview: Scunthorpe v Poole
BIGGEST MEETING AT THE EDDIE WRIGHT RACEWAY FOR FIVE YEARS
ATTIS INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions stage a huge meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway when they host Poole Pirates in the first leg of the Championship Knockout Cup Final on Sunday afternoon (3pm).
Scorpions won the league title at second tier level (in 2012), but never the Knockout Cup. Last weekend, Scorpions completed a 103-77 aggregate victory over Redcar Bears at the semi-final stage, after a 49-41 victory in Teesside.
It’s the second time in their history that Scorpions have reached the Knockout Cup Final at this level – the previous occasion was in 2018, when they lost out to Workington Comets. Scorpions won the third-tier Knockout Cup in both 2006 and 2007.
Glamour club Poole completed the league and cup double in both 2021 and 2022, but they lost the league in the play-off final to Glasgow this season, after Tigers completed a 95-85 aggregate victory on Wednesday evening. Poole knocked Scunthorpe out of the play-offs at the group stage.
The second leg of the Cup Final is due to take place at Poole next Wednesday (October 18).
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I feel we’ve got the momentum going into the Cup Final, following two very good victories over Redcar in the semi-finals. I think everyone who went to Redcar last Friday could see just how much skipper Simon Lambert and the rest of the boys are up to win the Knockout Cup this season.
“We’ve been one of the top four teams in this division this season and we wanted another chance to beat Poole, after they knocked us out of the play-offs. On that occasion, we held them 45-45 with a great performance at their place, only for us to then lose on our track.
“Sometimes, you can find yourselves a bit under pressure from having the second leg at your own track, so I’m quite pleased to have the first leg of the Cup Final at home. It means the lads can just enjoy their night and have a good meeting.
“Ideally, we need not just to win at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday, build also build up a lead to take to Poole for the second leg, but I’m not going to put a figure on that. We’ve shown twice this season that we can ride well at Poole, while our No 1 Ryan Douglas loves the place. Going to Wimborne Road doesn’t hold any fears for us, and I feel we can do whatever we need to do down there next Wednesday.
“It goes without saying that the first leg at the EWR is a huge occasion – it’s the first time since 2018 that we’ve been in a big final like this. A big, vocal crowd cheering for the Scorpions will spur on the lads even more. I believe we’ve got the right seven lads to pull this off and win the cup.”
Accompanied children aged 16 and under will be admitted free all season to speedway meetings at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
For those who cannot make it to the Eddie Wright Raceway, Scorpions are live streaming home meetings for just £11.99 at: https://tv.scunthorpe-speedway.com/
ADMISSION PRICES FOR SUNDAY:
Adult: £20.00
Student/OAP: £18.00
Child (0 – 16): Free (must be accompanied by paying adult)
Programme: £1.00
Car Parking now free
Pay on the day at the turnstiles by cash or card.
Expected teams for Sunday:
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.
Poole Pirates: 1. Richard Lawson, 2. Anders Rowe or R/R, 3. Ben Cook, 4. Zach Cook, 5. Steve Worrall, 6. Kyle Newman, 7. Joe Thompson.
