Mogridge & Chapman lead improved showing for Stags at Mildenhall

MILDENHALL FEN TIGERS 63 SCUNTHORPE STAGS 30 (NATIONAL LEAGUE)

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Stags put in an improved showing at Mildenhall earlier this afternoon (Sunday), in a National League meeting that ended Mildenhall Fen Tigers 63 Scunthorpe Stags 30.

It is only the second time that the Stags have hit 30 points this season – and is the first time they have reached that mark in an away meeting.

Topping the Stags’ score-chart were two rookies who have made fine progress this season – Arron Mogridge (10 points) and Sam Chapman (9).

Mogridge won his tactical ride in Heat 8, but suffered some hard luck elsewhere. He was unlucky not to get a re-run, when he fell and remounted in a crowded first turn in Heat 5, and was pipped on the line by Jack Kingston in Heat 11.

Chapman (pictured) opened with three second places, including wrecking the maximum hopes of the far more experienced Brendan Johnson in Heat 6.

The highlight of the day for Chapman and Mogridge came in Heat 15. Pitted against the unbeaten pair of Connor Coles and Jack Kingston, Chapman led the way, while Mogridge battled past Kingston into third place. With Kingston then falling, the race was awarded as a 4-2 to the Stags and brought them up to the 30-point mark.

Stags’ team manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “I’m happy with the outcome of this meeting. Mildenhall are one of the stronger teams in this league, so to reach the 30-point-barrier for the first team in an away meeting this season at this track shows the lads are improving.

“It’s been about perseverance this season. We’ve taken some hammerings, but we knew if we stuck with these lads, they would improve.

“Although Arron (Mogridge) and Sam (Chapman) are the ones who are starting to score the points, the rest of the lads are not far away either. They are on the pace and the points will start to come.

“If anything, Arron was a bit unlucky today – he could have scored more. He lost the chance to score any points from his second ride, after that was allowed to continue, despite him falling in a first bend bunching incident.

“Many people forget Arron missed a couple of months at the start of the season through injury, so he’s done so well to be where he is at the moment. In the last few meetings, he’s looked very competitive and given some much more experienced riders a real run for their money.

“Sam has rode at Mildenhall for Milton Keynes in a few Midland Development League (MDL) matches and I think that benefitted him today.

“Sam made a stunning debut for us against Cradley in April, but since then he’s soldiered through some tough times. Again it’s been a case of perseverance.

“Sam doesn’t have any easy rides at No 5 and any points he has to gain the hard way. Today he spoilt the maximums of both Brendan Johnson and Connor Coles. Even in Heat 13, Sam gave it a real good go early on, and nearly got past the top Mildenhall duo of Dan Halsey and Joe Jacobs.”

MILDENHALL FEN TIGERS 63
1. Dan Halsey 3 3 3 3 (12)
2. Josh Bates R/R
3. Connor Coles 3 3 3 3 2 (14)
4. Brendan Johnson 2* 2* 1 3 (8+2)
5. Joe Jacobs 3 2* 3 2* (10+2)
6. Jack Kingston 3 3 2* 2* X (10+2)
7. Connor Mountain 2* 0 2 2* (6+2)
8. Sam Woods 0 0 1* 2* (3+2)

HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE STAGS 30
1. Steve Jones 1* 1 0 1 (3+1)
2. Aaron Mogridge 2 0 6# 1 1 (10)
3. Danno Verge 1 1 0# 1 (3)
4. Reece Downes 0 0 1 1 (2)
5. Sam Chapman 2 2 2 0 3 (9)
6. Cameron Hoskins 1 1* 0 0 (2+1)
7. Ryan MacDonald 0 1* 0 0 (1+1)

#=tactical ride

1: (Re-run) Halsey, Mogridge, Jones, Woods (fell, remounted), 54.0 (3-3) (3-3).
2: Kingston, Mountain, Hoskins, MacDonald, 54.8 (5-1) (8-4).
3: Coles, Johnson, Verge, Downes, 54.0 (5-1) (13-5).
4: Jacobs, Chapman, MacDonald, Mountain (fell, remounted), 54.4 (3-3) (16-8).
5: Coles, Johnson, Jones, Mogridge (fell, remounted), 55.5 (5-1) (21-9).
6: Halsey, Chapman, Hoskins, Woods, 54.3 (3-3) (24-12).
7: Kingston, Jacobs, Verge, Downes (15m penalty for tape touching), 54.0 (5-1) (29-13).
8: MOGRIDGE (TR), Mountain, Woods, MacDonald, 55.4 (3-6) (32-19).
9: Coles, Chapman, Johnson, Hoskins, 55.4 (4-2) (36-21).
10: Halsey, Woods, Downes, VERGE (TR), 54.7 (5-1) (41-22).
11: Jacobs, Kingston, Mogridge, Jones, 54.7 (5-1) (46-23).
12: Coles, Mountain, Verge, Hoskins, 55.4 (5-1) (51-24).
13: Halsey, Jacobs, Jones, Chapman, 55.1 (5-1) (56-25).
14: Johnson, Kingston, Downes, MacDonald, 54.4 (5-1) (61-26).
15: Chapman, Coles, Mogridge, Kingston (fell, excluded), awarded – no time (2-4) (63-30).

* The Stags are next in action at King’s Lynn on Wednesday evening.