Scorpions open against local rivals

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS will commence their 2015 fixtures at the Eddie Wright Raceway with a League Cup clash against local rivals Sheffield Tigers on Easter Monday (April 6, 3pm).

The Scorpions are in action at Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium ten days beforehand in the corresponding away match.

Scunthorpe commence their home Premier League fixtures, with the visit of reigning champions Edinburgh on May 4.

The Scorpions’ fixture list features four Monday bank holiday afternoon fixtures, but the remaining fixtures are all on Friday evenings. This is in contrast to last season, where Scunthorpe also staged a number of Sunday afternoon meetings.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It is the fixture list we were looking for. We did not want to run at home on dark, cold evenings in March. Speedway is a summer sport. All our home fixtures are programmed to take place between April and August, and the plan is any play-off fixtures will be held in September and the opening days of October, rather than the back end of October.

“We have the continuity back in our fixtures this year. We want the fans to get back into the habit of coming to the Eddie Wright Raceway on a Friday night.

“It’s a big year ahead for the club. We have already stated we need an extra 100 people through the gate every week and continuity is needed for that.

“Last year, some fans weren’t sure if we would be riding on a Friday or a Sunday that week. This year, it’s much more simple – we ride on bank holiday Mondays, but apart from the weeks before and after a bank holiday, we run on a Friday. In June, July and August, we have a run of Friday meetings.

“We’ve put together what we believe is an entertaining and exciting team to watch, with some old favourites and some new ones as well, and I hope, like me, the supporters can’t wait for the season to start.”