Stags battle until the end

KING’S LYNN YOUNG STARS 71 SCUNTHORPE STAGS 19 (NATIONAL LEAGUE)

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Stags’ boss Richard Hollingsworth was impressed by the battling qualities shown by his young side, after they lost two riders through injury early on in last night’s (Wednesday) 19-71 National League defeat at King’s Lynn.

Danno Verge suffered a suspected broken foot in a freak accident in the pits following Heat 3, and then Jack Hall aggravated a wrist injury after a fall in Heat 6.

It left the Stags with just five riders for the rest of the evening, and only able to track one rider in Heats 9 & 12.

With the Stags riding in the second half of a double-header, the King’s Lynn Young Stars were already dialed into the track and shot into a 40-8 lead after a string of 5-1s.

The closest the Stags’ came to beating a King’s Lynn rider in those eight races had been in Heat 5, when Arron Mogridge fell in second place, while involved in a right old scrap with James Cockle and Marc Owen. Owen took avoiding action, into the fence, and was forced to withdraw from the rest of the meeting.

Sam Woods led Josh Bailey for two laps in Heat 7, but Bailey came through to join Lewis Rose for a 5-1.

The possible whitewash was avoided in Heat 9. Despite being the only Stag in the race, Sam Chapman led all the way, beating the vastly experienced James Cockle in the process.

At that point, the Stags really came alive. 15-year-old Reece Downes was already over 28-year-old Darren Mallett in Heat 10, but unable to get through, while Mogridge finished second ahead of Bailey in Heat 11.  Chapman fell while well-placed in Heat 13.

The Stags held a 4-2 in Heat 15, but third-place Mogridge took a tumble, forcing a stoppage. Chapman led the re-run until the final bend, but a flat tyre meant Scott Campos pipped him on the line.

Hollingsworth said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy after the team I’ve been managing has scored just 19 points.

“After we lost Danno and Jack, the remaining five riders got themselves dialed into the track and we were highly competitive in the closing stages. We lost out on a few points due to mishaps, but the lads were out there trying until the chequered flag of Heat 15.

“Sam Chapman and Arron Mogridge did beat opposing riders, while Reece, Steve and Sam Woods all came close to doing so.

“It was great to see Reece chasing down and catching Darren Mallett. He couldn’t quite pass him, but there’s always next time.”

KING’S LYNN 71: Scott Campos 13+2, Tom Stokes 13+2, Lewis Rose 12, Darren Mallett 10+2, James Cockle 10+1, Josh Bailey 9+4, Marc Owen 4+2.
SCUNTHORPE 19: Sam Chapman 6, Sam Woods 4, Steve Jones 3, Arron Mogridge 3, Reece Downes 2, Danno Verge 1, Jack Hall 0.