SCORPIONS THIRD, AFTER DOUBLE OVER PLYMOUTH

SCORPIONS MOVE UP TO THIRD, AFTER COMPLETING DOUBLE OVER PLYMOUTH

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 50 PLYMOUTH GLADIATORS 40  (Cab Direct Championship)

ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions produced a solid team performance to overcome a spirited challenge from plucky Plymouth Gladiators and record a 50-40 victory in the Cab Direct Championship at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).

Having already won by 47-42 at Plymouth last Saturday, Scunthorpe also picked up an aggregate bonus point, and the three points from Scorpions move them up from sixth to third in the league table.

Scorpions moved into the lead with a 5-1 from reserves Luke Harrison and Zaine Kennedy in Heat 2. Twice, Scorpions moved six points ahead with further 5-1s in Heats 4 and 6, but each time Gladiators hit back with a 5-1 of their own in the following race. Czech Republic rider Daniel Klima was an impressive first-time visitor to the EWR and scored 7+1 for Gladiators, including overcoming Zaine Kennedy in battle for first place in Heat 8.

Declan Kennedy had started the meeting slowly, but he moved from last to first to join Connor Mountain for a 5-1 in Heat 9, as once again, Scorpions moved six clear.

A key race occurred in Heat 11. Plymouth No 1 Nicolai Klindt trapped, but was passed on either side by Jake Allen and Harrison, and then Klindt pulled out of the race, as Scorpions stretched their lead to ten points.

Klindt came into Heat 12 as a tactical substitute. He won the race, but had to fend off a stern challenge from Zaine Kennedy, while the resulting 3-3 took Scorpions closer to the winning post.

Allen fought past Klindt into second place in Heat 13, but Scunthorpe lost out on a 5-1 after Allen suffered a puncture with a lap remaining. Nevertheless, Steve Worrall’s race win saw Scorpions all but mathematically safe, and victory was put beyond any doubt when Harrison and Mountain packed the minor placings behind Joe Thompson in Heat 14.

Worrall also won Heat 15 – having recovered from a last place in Heat 1 to record four successive heat wins to top score for Scorpions on 12 points.

Scunthorpe team manager David Howe said: “Fair play to Plymouth – they had us a bit worried at the mid-point at the meeting.

“It was a good team performance from our boys and I could have put any of them out in Heat 15.”

SCUNTHORPE 50: Steve Worrall 12, Zaine Kennedy 9+1, Connor Mountain 7+2, Luke Harrison 7+1, Jake Allen 6+1, Simon Lambert 5+2, Declan Kennedy 4+1.
PLYMOUTH 40: Joe Thompson 11+1, Nicolai Klindt 11, Daniel Klima 7+1, Tobias Thomsen 5+2, Alfie Bowtell 4+1, Mitchell Cluff 1+1, Lasse Fredriksen 1.

* ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions are back in action at the Eddie Wright Raceway next Friday (July 18) at 7.30pm, when they host reigning champions and current league leaders Poole Pirates in what is sure to be a captivating meeting. In the meantime, the National League Steelers are in action at Leicester on Sunday afternoon (July 13).

* LOOKING further forward, the visit of Workington Comets to the Eddie Wright Raceway has been brought forward two weeks to Friday, August 1. The original date – Friday, August 15 – is now a reserved date at the EWR. There is also a new date for the rained off meeting at Glasgow – Saturday, August 2.

PHOTOS by IAN RISPIN