SCORPIONS FACE DIFFICULT TASK AFTER HOME DEFEAT

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 44 OXFORD CHEETAHS 46 (Cab Direct Championship play-off, semi-final, first leg)

ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions will need a superhuman effort at Oxford next Wednesday, after they lost 44-46 at home to the Oxford Cheetahs in the first leg of their Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).

Scunthorpe built up a ten-point lead at 17-7 after four races – including back-to-back 5-1s in Heats 2 and 3. At that stage of proceedings, it looked like Scorpions could build the kind of lead they were looking for.

But Cheetahs hit back with three successive heat advantages of their own to reduce Scunthorpe’s lead to two points after Heat 7. It was then nip and tuck for the rest of the evening, before Oxford moved level with a 5-1 in Heat 13 and then moved into the lead with a 4-2 in Heat 14.

Jake Allen won Heat 15 – beating top Oxford duo Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters – which meant Scorpions lost by only two points and are still close to the opponents when the action moves down to Cowley next Wednesday.

Allen top-scored for Scorpions with 10+1, while every Scorpion won at least one race during the evening. In total, Scorpions provided nine of the 15 heat winners, but also lacked consistency at times during the evening, with only Allen and skipper Simon Lambert adding a second victory.

Arguably the most impressive Scorpion was 17-year-old Luke Harrison, who twice gave the hugely experienced Nicholls a run for his money, including leading the seven-time British Champion for almost the whole of Heat 4. Harrison scored 7+1 but deserved more for his efforts.

Overall, it was another thrilling night of action at the EWR, commencing with a near-dead-heat between Connor Mountain and Cameron Heeps for third in Heat 1 – with the verdict being given to Heeps after the referee consulted the transponder times. But the result leaves Scorpions facing an uphill battle to reach their first play-off final since 2012.

Scunthorpe skipper Simon Lambert said: “It’s not the result we wanted and it’s very disappointing. But it’s only half time – there’s still another 15 races to go at Oxford next Wednesday.

“My job now is to keep up the heads of the boys and make them realise that it’s not over yet. If Oxford can come here and win, there’s no reason why we can’t do the same and win at their place.

“There was no lack of effort from us tonight. We’ve just got a couple of riders off form at the moment.

“When the play-offs come around, you’ve got to step up to the plate. Tonight we haven’t done that, but there’s another chance to do that when we go again at Oxford next Wednesday.”

Scunthorpe Stags were also in action at Edinburgh last night in the WSRA National League. With both Harrison and Nathan Ablitt riding for Scorpions, it was no surprise that a depleted Stags lost 31-58 at Armadale.

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 44: Jake Allen 10+1, Simon Lambert 9, Luke Harrison 7+1, Kyle Howarth 7, Connor Mountain 5, Michael Palm Toft 3, Nathan Ablitt 3.

OXFORD CHEETAHS 46: Sam Masters 12+1, Scott Nicholls 11+1, Luke Killeen 8+1, Dan Gilkes 6+1, Cameron Heeps 5+1, Ashton Boughen 4+1, Jody Scott 0.

EDNBURGH MONARCHS ACADEMY 58: Dayle Wood 14+1, Connor Coles 12+2, Max Perry 10+1, Mason Watson 9+2, Sam McGurk 8+1, Kyran Lyden 5, Mark Parker 0.

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 31: Jamie Etherington 8+1, Ace Pijper 6+1, Stene Pijper 6, Mickie Simpson 5, Danny Phillips 3, Owen Booth 3.

* ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions are back in action at the Eddie Wright Raceway next Friday (September 20), when they face the Edinburgh Monarchs in the second leg of the BSN Series semi-final. Scunthorpe have a nine-point advantage after a 49-40 away victory at Armadale. The aggregate winners will face Poole Pirates in the final.

PHOTO: Jake Allen winning Heat 15 (pic: Ian Rispin)