Stags in highly competitive encounter at Buxton

BUXTON HITMEN 51 SCUNTHORPE STAGS 40 (NATIONAL LEAGUE)

THE YOUNGSTERS of the Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Stags again demonstrated how much they have improved across the course of the 2014 season, with a 40-51 defeat in a highly competitive National League match at Buxton yesterday afternoon (Sunday).

The Stags stayed in contention throughout the meeting, and weren’t far away from taking their first NL point of the season… indeed, with the deficit at just seven points after 11 races, this had looked a real possibility.

Scunthorpe took a while to find their feet, despite a fine win for Tom Bacon in Heat 2. Sam Chapman fell while out in front in Heat 5, as Buxton Hitmen moved 20-10 ahead.

Arron Mogridge was nominated as a tactical ride in Heat 6, and he and Bacon briefly threatened to take an 8-1, only for Buxton’s Tony Atkin to show his experience in working his way to the front, as the Stags to had settle for a 4-3, with Bacon and Mogridge unable to swap places on the final lap due to pressure from fourth-placed Adam Extance.

Buxton’s Ryan Blacklock fell on the final corner of Heat 7, and Ellis Perks and Danno Verge moved through for a 5-1, as the Stags reduced the deficit to five points.

Mogridge fell challenging Tom Woolley for second place in Heat 9, as Buxton extended their lead with a 5-1. But the Stags refused to throw in the towel, with Chapman riding a perfect four laps in Heat 11, to avoid leaving any gap for the charging Blacklock, as Stags reduced the gap once more to 30-37.

Heat 12 was an exciting affair, which eventually ended up in a 5-1 to Buxton, after Paul Bowen rounded Verge on the final bend.

It was difficult to know which way to look in Heat 13, as Mogridge rode a clever ride to repass Blacklock for third, while Chapman kept Atkin at bay up front. Eventually Atkin burst through into the lead on lap 3. Chapman did well to avoid falling after a mistake on the final lap; all he lost was second place to team-mate Mogridge.

Perks had been looking more-and-more competitive as the meeting wore on, and indeed had kept the far more experienced Atkin on his toes in Heat 10. It was no surprise when Perks won Heat 14, denting the maximum hopes of Woolley.

The Stags nearly took a 5-1 in Heat 15, but race-leader Mogridge took a tumble on the opening lap, while Perks won his second successive race, as a 3-3 took the final scoreline to Buxton 51 Scunthorpe 40.

Scunthorpe Stags have one more fixture – at home to the Buxton Hitmen next Sunday (October 12) in the second half of a double header at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Arron Mogridge said: “We came here to give it a go, and we kept it close.

“I actually really like the shape of this track, but the top surface is unusual. We had a few problems early on, but we learnt as we went along and adapted and made less mistakes as we went along. Well, apart from my fall in Heat 15, I guess. But things like that are there to be learnt from.

“Next week, when Buxton are at our place, we’re out to take the points and get out first win. I’m hopeful – I know I can do it and know that the other boys can do it as well.”

Danno Verge (pictured) said: “I made a couple of mistakes that cost me a couple of race wins, but I’m reasonably happy to finish with paid eight.

“Ellis Perks lives with me, so I was happy to see him having a good one as well. He was a bit unlucky in his first one, I dived under him and he went wide, but he did well after that.

“The track was grippy on the inside and quite a few people were making mistakes. I was having to work hard for my points.

“I’m off to Australia in mid-November for three months, so that I can keep riding during the winter, ready for next season.”

Stags’ team manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “I wasn’t surprised by our performance at Buxton. We having been improving and I knew we could push them close, and we did.

“It’s easy to say, that but for a few falls, we could have won. But Buxton had a few falls as well and it was just speedway.

“We brought in Ellis Perks, Tom Bacon and Cameron Hoskins, who don’t have regular National League team places, and yet they were competitive and scoring points. It shows that there should be more opportunites for new riders in this league.

“Ellis was really excellent, Tom also rode very well, and Cam ended up with a good couple of rides.

“Our regulars were also in the thick of things and challenging for wins. Sam (Chapman) had a couple of falls, in good scoring positions. He didn’t really take to the track, but showed what he is capable of, by leading Tony Atkin for more than half of Heat 13.

“Arron (Mogridge) also had a couple of offs, but looked competitive, while Danno (Verge) is now scoring more points because his gating has got better and he’s now mixing it in the first turns.

“All-in-all, it was a good performance from us.”

BUXTON 51: Tony Atkin 15 (full maximum), Tom Woolley 13+3, Adam Extance 11+1, Ryan Blacklock 6, Paul Bowen 3+2, Stefan Farnaby 3, Liam Carr r/r.
SCUNTHORPE 40: Ellis Perks 11, Danno Verge 6+2, Arron Mogridge 6+1, Tom Bacon 6, Sam Chapman 5+1, Cameron Hoskins (no.8) 4, Ryan MacDonald 2+1, Steve Jones r/r.