Scorpions look to bounce straight back
IPSWICH WITCHES 57 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 35 (PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS)
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions head into tonight’s massive Premier League play-off meeting against reigning league champions Somerset Rebels at the Eddie Wright Raceway (Friday, 7.30pm), needing a positive result… after a 35-57 defeat at Ipswich last night (Thursday) in their opening play-off fixture.
The defining moment of the meeting at Foxhall Heath came in Heat 7, when race-leader Nicolai Klindt crashed out on the final corner, while under pressure from Richie Worrall.
The Dane has been carrying a wrist injury for a number of weeks, and did it no good at all in the crash. He now faces a spell on the sidelines, joining Ashley Birks and Ryan Douglas on the injury list. Almost unbelievably, all three have scaphoid injuries.
Had Klindt make it to the finish line in front in Heat 7, the Scorpions would have trailed by just two points at 20-22.
Without him, the Scorpions were left with too many passengers, especially at reserve, where they were heavily outscored, with guest Mark Lemon unable to replicate the high scoring of Birks.
David Howe and Josh Auty led the fight for Scunthorpe and the visitors still only trailed by 26-34 after Heat 10. But the Witches then found a different gear to finish the meeting as comfortable winners.
Scorpions’ team manager Dave Peet said: “Nicolai crashing out did make a difference, although the way it was shaping up, it looked like we may have been found to be wanting in any case. But we’d have run them closer with Nicolai.
“But it wasn’t to be – it just wasn’t our night.
“We now have to forget about last night’s meeting and focus on the home meeting tonight. We’ve just got to regroup and give Somerset a kicking this evening.”
Last night’s scorers:
IPSWICH 57: Richie Worrall 11+2, Cameron Heeps 11+1, Morten Risager 10, Adam Ellis 9, Rohan Tungate 8+1, Ritchie Hawkins 7+1, Gino Manzares 1+1.
SCUNTHORPE 35: David Howe 11, Josh Auty 11, Thomas Jorgensen 5, Nicolai Klindt 4+1, Mark Lemon 4, Tom Perry 0, Ryan Douglas r/r.
* With Nicolai Klindt ruled out, the Scorpions will juggle their resources tonight for the critical match against Somerset. Rider replacement will operate at No 1, while Hugh Skidmore is set to come in as a guest for Ryan Douglas at No 3.
Former Scorpions Ben Wilson and Benji Compton are due to replace Ashley Birks (injured) and Tom Perry (unavailable) respectively, in the reserve berths.
Admission prices for tonight:
Adult: £15.00
Student/OAP: £13.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £35 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00
Expected teams for tonight:
FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. R/R for Nicolai Klindt, 2. David Howe, 3. Hugh Skidmore, 4. Josh Auty, 5. Thomas Jørgensen, 6. Benji Compton, 7. Ben Wilson.
Somerset Rebels: 1. Oliver Allen, 2. R/R for Brady Kurtz, 3. Charles Wright, 4. Pontus Aspgren, 5. Nick Morris, 6. Todd Kurtz, 7. Paul Starke.
* Please note there may be an exciting development to the Scunthorpe team listed above. The final Scorpions’ team for tonight will be listed on this website later in the day.
