JOINT NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAM AT LEICESTER

THE joint National League team representing both Scunthorpe and Sheffield races an away fixture at Leicester this afternoon (Sunday) at 3pm in their second fixture of the season.

Home fixtures are split with Scunthorpe Stags hosting both Edinburgh and Oxford, and Sheffield Tiger Cubs at home to Middlesbrough, Belle Vue and Leicester. The team will ride in away meetings with the same identity as in the corresponding home meeting, for example, Scunthorpe Stags will be racing at Edinburgh and Oxford. At Leicester today, the team takes to the track as the Sheffield Tigers Cubs.  

The Autocraft Tiger Cubs opened with a battling 48-42 home win over Middlesbrough last month – but will have a different looking side this time around.

Nathan Ablitt has recovered from injury to take up the No 1 race jacket which was occupied by Jack Smith in the first meeting.

However, 15-year-old Stene Pijper has since suffered a broken scaphoid so Harry McGurk will guest at No.6 whilst rider replacement will operate at No.2 with Sheldon Davies unavailable for personal reasons.

The Tiger Cubs face a Leicester side who have won all four of their fixtures so far.

And assistant team manager Paul Tatam – who will be taking charge of the side at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena – knows it will be a tough challenge.

Tatam said: “It will be a very difficult match as Leicester have got a good team with riders whose averages have all gone up.

“We’re using R/R at No.2 which is not ideal but the lads are all up for it so hopefully we can give Leicester a good run for their money.”

Expected teams for this afternoon (Sunday):

Leicester Lion Cubs: 1. Joe Thompson, 2. Sonny Springer, 3. Tom Spencer, 4. Luke Crang, 5. Max James, 6. Arran Butcher, 7. Vinnie Foord.

Sheffield Tiger Cubs: 1. Nathan Ablitt, 2. Sheldon Davies R/R, 3. Mickie Simpson, 4. Luke Harrison, 5. Ace Pijper, 6. Harry McGurk (guest), 7. Kean Dicken.

PHOTO: Luke Harrison and Nathan Ablitt in action at Scunthorpe (pic: Ian Rispin)