Depleted Scorpions must battle through tough double-test

WHAT a way to go to war!

FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions face the most important few days of their season, without a couple of key players. But the Scorpions are still determined to give it their best shot, as they attempt to qualify for the Premier League play-off final, where Edinburgh are waiting.

Nicolai Klindt is ruled out for the season with a scaphoid injury after a crash at Ipswich last Thursday, while hopes that Ryan Douglas (another rider with damage to his scaphoid) would be fit for this week have proven to be optimistic.

It means the Scorpions need to resort to using guests for this week’s two crucial Play-Off Semi-Final group fixtures – away to Somerset tonight (Wednesday) and at home to the Ipswich Witches at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (7.30pm).

With initial guest choice Kyle Newman another injury victim, Carl Wilkinson comes in for tonight’s meeting at Somerset, while Ricky Wells is the guest for the home Ipswich clash.

Rider replacement operates for Douglas, while a further change sees Matt Williamson come in as a National League guest for both meetings in place of Tom Perry.

The Scorpions need a point at the very minimum at Somerset, and then need all three points against Ipswich on Friday. It’s difficult to say exactly what will be riding on Friday’s clash until tonight’s meeting at Somerset, plus the Ipswich v Somerset meeting tomorrow (Thursday) are completed, but it could be that the Scorpions go into Friday chasing a big win to transform their race points difference.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “The beauty of these three team groups is that there will be something resting on Friday’s result. We’re not sure yet if it will be us requiring a good result, or Ipswich, or both teams. But, for at least one team, this will be a crucial night of speedway.

“We’ll just keep battling away. Things haven’t gone our way with injuries in the last few weeks, but we still won’t give up on grabbing that place in the final, until it’s definitely gone.

“And there’s also our home record on the line. We haven’t lost at home since Edinburgh came here in early May, and we intend to keep it that way.

“Another great night of speedway lies ahead at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday night.”

With the issue of the October Green Sheet averages, David Howe (pictured) moves to No 1 in the Scorpions’ line-up, having been at reserve just two months ago! Other changes see Josh Auty move to No 5 and Thomas Jorgensen to No 3.

Ashley Birks, who made a remarkable return last Friday, just 13 days after breaking his scaphoid, will remain at reserve in the No 7 spot.

Full play-off schedule for Group B:

Thursday, September 25 – Ipswich 57 Scunthorpe 35 at Foxhall Heath
Friday, September 26 – Scunthorpe 46 Somerset 44 at the Eddie Wright Raceway
Wednesday, October 1 – Somerset v Scunthorpe at the Oak Tree Arena
Thursday, October 2 – Ipswich v Somerset at Foxhall Heath
Friday, October 3 – Scunthorpe v Ipswich (7.30pm) at the Eddie Wright Raceway
Friday, October 10 – Somerset v Ipswich at the Oak Tree Arena

HOW THE PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS WORK:

The two semi-final groups are determined on a mini-league basis (i.e. two home and two away fixtures for each club), with match points being accumulated as in regular fixtures. In the case of a tie on match points, race points difference is the deciding factor.

The winners of the two groups then meet home and away in the Grand Final, with the aggregate winners becoming the 2014 Premier League Champions.

Admission prices for Friday:

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 Friday (English unless stated):

FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. David Howe, 2. Rider replacement for Ryan Douglas (Australia), 3. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 4. Ricky Wells (United States), 5. Josh Auty, 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Ashley Birks.

Ipswich Witches: 1. Rohan Tungate (Australia), 2. Cameron Heeps (Australia), 3. Morten Risager (Denmark), 4. Gino Manzares (United States), 5. Richie Worrall, 6. Ritchie Hawkins, 7. Adam Ellis.

Ipswich Witches at EWR

Ave Ave Best
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Adam Ellis PL 1 4 5 1 5.00 6.00 5 + 1 from 4 rides (2013)
Ritchie Hawkins PL 19 84 104 18 4.95 5.81 10 + 2 from 7 rides (2010)
Cameron Heeps PL 3 13 14 1 4.31 4.62 11 + 1 from 5 rides (2013)
Gino Manzares PL 1 5 9 1 7.20 8.00 12 + 1 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2014))
Morten Risager PL 5 19 15 1 3.16 3.37 4 + 1 from 4 rides (2013)
Rohan Tungate PL 3 13 20 1 6.15 6.46 10 from 5 rides (2014)
Richie Worrall PL 8 37 60 5 6.49 7.03 13 from 5 rides (2012)

Other Notes

Adam Ellis
Recently represented Great Britain in the World Under-21 Team Cup in Germany.
Fast-Track Reserve with Lakeside for the 2014 Elite League season.

Ritchie Hawkins
2004 British Under-21 Champion.
Former Scunthorpe Scorpion
Member of Somerset’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2005.
Member of Mildenhall’s Conference League Championship, KO Cup and Trophy Winning Teams in 2004.

Cameron Heeps
2012 Western Australia State Champion.
5 times Western Australian Under-16 Champion (2006 to 2010).
Member of Mildenhall’s National League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Mildenhall’s 2012 National League Championship, KO Cup, Trophy and Pairs Winning Teams.

Gino Manzares
Has represented the USA in the Speedway World Cup.
2012 US Under-21 National Champion.
Riding in his debut British League season.

Morten Risager
Member of Coventry’s Elite League Championship Winning Teams in 2005 and 2007.
Member of Coventry’s Elite Shield Winning Team in 2006.
Member of Ipswich’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2011.
Held his Testimonial Meeting at Ipswich earlier this season.

Rohan Tungate
Has won multiple Long track and Dirt track titles in Australia and is riding in his 2nd PL season with Ipswich.
Member of Poole’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2013, though missed the Play-Off Final due to injury.

Richie Worrall
Former Scunthorpe Saint.
Member of Scunthorpe’s National League Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011 and 2013.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League Cup Winning Team in 2013.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Belle Vue for the 2014 Elite League season.

Ipswich’s Results at EWR:

03 June 2011 KOC1 L Scunthorpe 55 Ipswich 35
01 July 2011 KOC1R L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 37
05 August 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 39
26 June 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 61 Ipswich 31
19 April 2013 PL D Scunthorpe 45 Ipswich 45
20 June 2014 PL L Scunthorpe 55 Ipswich 38