SUPERB WIN FOR DEPLETED SCORPIONS

SUPERB WIN FOR DEPLETED SCORPIONS

BERWICK BANDITS 44 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 46 (Cab Direct Championship)

LAST heat heroics from Connor Mountain and Kyle Howarth saw Scunthorpe Scorpions clinch a nail-biting 46-44 victory at Berwick last night (Saturday), despite being reduced to five riders, after losing both Michael Palm Toft and Nathan Ablitt in a Heat 6 crash.

The race had already been halted due to movement from Berwick guest Craig Cook at the start, when Palm Toft appeared to throw a chain on the approach to the first corner and the following Ablitt could not avoid him. Palm Toft has suffered a suspected broken collarbone and possibly has further damage to his shoulder, while Ablitt suffered a knock to his left knee. Palm Toft is expected to be out of action for a few weeks at least. But it is hoped Ablitt will fit to be ride at Oxford on Wednesday where Scorpions will look to extend their 100% start in the Cab Direct Championship.

Berwick had been reduced to six riders themselves, after out-of-form Jye Etheridge had fallen at the rear in Heat 5.

Scorpions led 17-13 after five races, but after a lengthy delay, Bandits took a 5-1 from Danyon Hume and Cook in the re-run of Heat 6, despite a battling ride from Connor Mountain.

But remarkably it was Bandits’ only heat advantage of the whole meeting, despite providing 10 heat winners. Scorpions looked like much more of a team than the home side and consistently packed the minor placings in second and third to share races on a night where there were no fewer than eleven shared 3-3 results.

Scorpions only had three non-scoring rides in the whole meeting, while none of Scunthorpe’s top five had a last place all evening. 16-year-old reserve Luke Harrison was forced to take seven outings after the withdrawal of Ablitt, but scored some key points, including a win in Heat 2.

The one race in the second half of the meeting that resulted in a heat advantage was Heat 11. Mountain and Howarth flew out of the start. Rory Schlein overhauled Howarth, but there was no catching Mountain, who inflicted the sole defeat of the night on the Berwick skipper, as Scorpions moved back ahead with a 4-2.

Heat 14 was also important. Harrison had earlier defeated the more experienced Connor Coles three times, but this time around, fell in pursuit of his rival. In the re-run, Jake Allen made no mistakes to beat Drew Kemp and maintain Scunthorpe’s two-point lead.

In the final race, Schlein and Kemp flew from the tapes, and Bandits looked like they could snatch the verdict at the death with a 5-1. But Mountain and Howarth piled the pressure on Kemp, who went too wide on the second bend of the second lap, got perilously close to the fence and lost momentum. In a flash, Mountain and Howarth pounced and flew through the gap and Scorpions had the 3-3 they needed to complete a famous victory that banished memories of a 18-point defeat at Shielfield Park in April in the Knockout Cup.

Mountain top-scored for Scorpions with 11+1, while skipper Simon Lambert picked up five second places on his way to a 10-point tally, despite Berwick centre green Dick Barrie presenter again trying (and failing) to wind him up.

Howarth (9+1) and Allen (7+4) were also paid for double figures, while Harrison’s 6+3 contribution was priceless and did much to swing the meeting in the favour of Scunthorpe.

Scunthorpe No 1 Kyle Howarth said: “We won because of a whole team performance tonight, and fair play to young Luke at reserve, because his points played a big part in our victory.

“We’ve had a run of three home meetings recently, and winning those well have allowed us to catch a bit of form.  It’s always a big boost to go and win away, while the atmosphere around the team is really good.

“It’s never nice to see riders injured, and I wish a speedy recovery to the riders who got hurt tonight.”

BERWICK 44: Rory Schlein 14, Drew Kemp 11, Danyon Hume 8, Connor Coles 6+2, Craig Cook 5+1, Jye Etheridge 0, Freddy Hodder 0.

SCUNTHORPE 46: Connor Mountain 11+1, Simon Lambert 10, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Jake Allen 7+4, Luke Harrison 6+3, Michael Palm Toft 2, Nathan Ablitt 1.

* ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions travel to Oxford on Wednesday (June 5), before hosting Berwick at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (June 7) at 7.30pm. A re-arranged fixture then sees Oxford Cheetahs at the EWR on Friday, June 14.

Report by Rob Peasley

PHOTO: Last heat heroes Kyle Howarth and Connor Mountain on their way to a 5-1 at Scunthorpe on Friday (pic by STEVE DIXON)