Scorpions take huge step towards Premier League play-offs

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 58 PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS 36 (PREMIER LEAGUE)

FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions have one-and-a-half feet in the Premier League play-offs after a resounding 58-36 victory over rivals Peterborough Panthers at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday).

Although not quite 100% mathematically certain of a place, it would now take an unusual set of results to deny the fifth-placed Scorpions a place in the top six.

The Scorpions showed that they meant business from the off, with Nicolai Klindt setting a new track record time of 55.11 seconds in Heat 1.

Scunthorpe were 24-12 ahead after six races. Peterborough briefly pulled back with an 8-1 in Heat 7, but the Scorpions pulled back away and had all three points in the bag after 12 races.

David Howe (14+1) scored his third maximum of the season for the Scorpions, while Josh Auty (9+2) dropped just a single point to the opposition.

Four other Scorpions – Ashley Birks (9+2), Ryan Douglas (9), Nicolai Klindt (8+2) and Thomas Jorgensen (8+1) – also scored paid nine or more.

Ulrich Ostergaard waged largely a one-man war for a disappointing Peterborough outfit, who, on this showing, will struggle to make the top six.

Josh Auty said: “Collectively, we put in a great team performance. We thought this would be a tough meeting, but it turned out to be a convincing win, which is good.

“The boys seem to be happy with things at the moment. It’s all about getting into the play-offs – and it looks like we are now going to be in those, which is great.

“We’ve started to pick up some points on the road, which is a massive help. Some of the tracks we’ve been to – or will be going to – will be in the play-offs, so it’s a good chance to get dialled in, in terms of set-up.

“I might have only dropped one point tonight, but I’m still a bit disappointed. I don’t like being beaten. It’s getting there, but I’m still not completely on top of my game yet. But as long as I’m at the top of my game for those six matches in the play-offs, that’s what it’s all about.

“We’ve had six meetings in the last 10 days, and I’ve been building my fitness up. My three weeks out with appendicitis become nearly six weeks thanks to the weather, which is a lot time without competitive action in the middle of the season. It’s actually my home form which is my biggest concern, because tonight was a meeting where perhaps I should have got a maximum.

“Earlier in the season, I was really drained all the time. I think that may been the appendicitis. I’ve now got plenty of energy and looking forward to the rest of the season. I’m content with tonight and I want a good meeting at Berwick, because we could be going back there in the play-offs”.

SCUNTHORPE 58: David Howe 14+1, Josh Auty 9+2, Ashley Birks 9+2, Ryan Douglas 9, Nicolai Klindt 8+2, Thomas Jorgensen 8+1, Tom Perry 1
PETERBOROUGH 36: Ulrich Ostergaard 16, Stuart Robson 8+1, Adam Roynon 4, Richard Hall 4, Max Dilger 2+1, Nicki Barrett 2, Ales Dryml r/r

* For tonight’s (Saturday) meeting at Berwick, Redcar’s Hugh Skidmore comes in as a guest for the unavailable Nicolai Klindt.

PHOTO: Maximum man David Howe and new track record holder Nicolai Klindt celebrate a 5-1.