Big Match Preview: Scunthorpe v Oxford
HUGE NIGHT AHEAD AT THE EDDIE WRIGHT RACEWAY
ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions are seeking to build up a commanding lead, when they host Oxford Cheetahs in what is now the first leg of the Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final the Eddie Wright Raceway tomorrow evening (Friday) at 7.30pm.
The first leg was rained off at just before 8pm at Oxford on Wednesday evening and will now be re-staged as the second leg at Cowley next Wednesday (September 18).
The aggregate winners will progress to the final, where the opposition will be either Poole Pirates or Workington Comets, with Pirates 52-38 ahead after their home leg, with the second leg at Workington on Saturday afternoon.
Cheetahs finished second in the regular Cab Direct Championship league table, while Scorpions were third. The play-offs are all-important and will determine the league champions.
Scorpions last won the league championship in 2012, pipping Somerset 92-91 in an epic play-off final after brilliant two legs of speedway. Last season, Scorpions won the Knockout Cup, while this season they are still chasing silverware on two fronts – in the Cab Direct Championship and also the BSN Series, where Scorpions have one foot in the final after a 49-40 away victory at Edinburgh.
In the standard Cab Direct Championship matches, Scunthorpe lost 34-55 at Oxford on June 5, but Scorpions then defeated Cheetahs by 47-43 at the Eddie Wright Raceway on August 30.
Scorpions are at full strength. Oxford bring in Dan Gilkes for the injured Jordan Jenkins and use their National League rider Jody Scott for the injured Adam Roynon at reserve.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “The Oxford riders will be familiar with our track, having been here only a fortnight ago for the final Cab Direct Championship league fixture of the season when they gave us a very close match and pushed us all the way to a last heat decider.
“We know it’s not going to be easy against the Cheetahs – when is a semi-final of any competition ever easy? But the goalposts have moved since Wednesday’s postponement, in that the talk early in the week was all about us keeping it close at Oxford to set things up for this evening, whereas now it’s all about us building up a lead for when we go back there next week.
“Oxford scored 43 points here two weeks ago and I’m sure they will be aiming for something similar and will be delighted if they can get it. For our part, we want to make sure we win firstly, and secondly, build up as big a lead as we can.
“It’s going to be a fantastic night of top-quality speedway and the crowd can make a big difference by getting right behind the boys and cheering them to victory.”
For those who cannot make it to the Eddie Wright Raceway, British Speedway Network (BSN) are streaming the meeting at: https://watch.britishspeedway.co.uk/
ADMISSION PRICES FOR TOMORROW (FRIDAY):
Adult: £20.00
Student/OAP: £18.00
Child (0 – 16): Free (must be accompanied by paying adult)
Programme: £1.00
Car Parking free
Pay on the day at the turnstiles by cash or card.
Expected teams for tomorrow (Friday):
Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Michael Palm Toft, 2. Connor Mountain, 3. Simon Lambert (captain), 4. Jake Allen, 5. Kyle Howarth, 6. Nathan Ablitt, 7. Luke Harrison.
Monarch Oxford Cheetahs: 1. Sam Masters, 2. Cameron Heeps, 3. Ashton Boughen, 4. Dan Gilkes (guest), 5. Scott Nicholls (captain), 6. Luke Killeen, 7. Jody Scott (guest).
* SCUNTHORPE Stags are also in action tonight (Friday) in the WSRA National League at Edinburgh. With both Nathan Ablitt and Luke Harrison riding for Scorpions, Danny Phillips will guest for Ablitt and rider replacement will operate for Harrison. Stags’ line-up: 1. Danny Phillips, 2. Mickie Simpson, 3. Stene Pijper, 4. Ace Pijper, 5. Luke Harrison R/R, 6. Owen Booth, 7. Jamie Etherington.
