SCORPIONS FACE UPHILL TASK AT POOLE

ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions face a monumental task to win the BSN Series at Poole’s Wimborne Road in Dorset tonight (Wednesday) at 7.30pm in their final meeting of the 2024 season.

Powerhouse Poole Pirates – who are chasing a treble – have a 16-point lead after a 53-37 away victory at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday.

Scorpions bring in Leon Flint to guest for injured No 1 Michael Palm Toft. 17-year-old Luke Harrison – who was top scorer for Scorpions on Sunday in brilliant fashion on 12 points – is also absent, since he is en route to the European Under-19 Final, which takes place in Herxheim, Germany on Thursday afternoon. Poole track specialist Paul Starke will ride in place of Harrison.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We’re fully aware of the size of the task awaiting us at Poole after our home defeat on Sunday.

“We’ve been the third best team at Cab Direct Championship level this season, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s not been a bad season because we got to three semi-finals and one final.

“We’ll approach the meeting at Poole like any other. We’d like to come out of it having given them a meeting and with our pride intact.”

Expected teams for tonight (Wednesday):

Poole Pirates: 1. Richard Lawson, 2. Sam Hagon, 3. Ben Cook (TBC), 4. Zach Cook, 5. Tom Brennan, 6. Tobias Thomsen, 7. Vinnie Foord.

Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Leon Flint (guest), 2. Connor Mountain, 3. Simon Lambert (captain), 4. Kyle Howarth, 5. Jake Allen, 6. Nathan Ablitt, 7. Paul Starke (guest).