Scorpions’ boss remains upbeat despite opening night defeat
SHEFFIELD TIGERS 57 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 35 (LEAGUE CUP)
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, commenced their 2015 season at Sheffield with a 35-57 League Cup defeat at Sheffield last night (Thursday).
But team manager Dave Peet said: “I can take a lot of positives from this meeting. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and I’ve seen that our side has a great deal of potential.”
Carl Wilkinson, back as a Scorpion for the first time since 2011, and Josh Auty (pictured) finished top scorers for Scunthorpe with 11 points apiece.
Auty, in typical fashion, picked up several of his points from behind, while ‘Wilko’ provided the visitors for two of their four heat winners.
The Scorpions can point to a number of lost points, with a loose plug lead for David Howe in Heat 11 denying them a 5-1.
Simon Stead powered to a paid maximum for Sheffield, who look like they will be very powerful around their home circuit this season.
Peet said: “I was very encouraged by our team spirit, because it was the first time this unit of riders has rode together.
“Josh (Auty) looked fine, while Wilko (Carl Wilkinson) was on it, and Theo (Pijper) got it together as the night went on.
“David (Howe) had bike problems, but the good news is that we think we’ve identified the problem. Likewise Alex (Davies) had clutch problems, but it’s obvious that there is more to come from him.
“The two reserves are both talents. Nike (Lunna) has a lot of heart and he’s just got to get used to getting around the British tracks. Ellis (Perks) found tonight that Premier League is much tougher than National League, but he was far from disgraced and he was on the pace.
“Sheffield have put together a side this season which will be dominant at home. But, having said that, we will push them much closer when we return to Owlerton in the league fixture.”
SHEFFIELD TIGERS 57
1. Simon Stead 2* 3 3 3 3 (14+1)
2. Andre Compton 3 1 3 2* (9+1)
3. Ashley Birks 2 2* 2 3 1 (10+1)
4. Ty Proctor 1* 3 1* 1* (6+3)
5. David Bellego 3 3 2 1 (9)
6. Josh Bates 3 1 1* 2 (7+1)
7. Arthur Sissis 1 0 0 1 (2)
FLUIDAIR POWER SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS, SUPPORTED BY HENDERSON INSURANCE 35
1. David Howe 1 1 R 0 (2)
2. Theo Pijper 0 0 2 3 (5)
3. Alex Davies 0 1* 0 2 (3+1)
4. Carl Wilkinson 3 4# 1 3 0 (11)
5. Josh Auty 2 2 3 2 2 (11)
6. Ellis Perks 2 0 FX R (2)
7. Nike Lunna R 1* FX FX (1+1)
# = tactical ride
1: Compton, Stead, Howe, Pijper, 61.6 (5-1) (5-1).
2: Bates, Perks, Sissis, Lunna (ret), 62.8 (4-2) (9-3).
3: Wilkinson, Birks, Proctor, Davies, 63.3 (3-3) (12-6).
4: Bellego, Auty, Lunna, Sissis, 62.2 (3-3) (15-9).
5: Proctor, Birks, Howe, Pijper, 63.3 (5-1) (20-10).
6: Stead, Auty, Compton, Perks, 62.3 (4-2) (24-12).
7: Bellego, WILKINSON (TR), Davies, Sissis, 63.6 (3-5) (27-17).
8: (Re-run) Compton, Pijper, Bates, Lunna (fell, excluded), 63.7 (4-2) (31-19).
9: Auty, Birks, Proctor, Perks (fell, excluded), no time – awarded (3-3) (34-22).
10: Stead, Compton, Wilkinson, Davies, 64.2 (5-1) (39-23).
11: Pijper, Bellego, Bates, Howe (ret), 64.5 (3-3) (42-26).
12: Birks, Davies, Sissis, Perks (ret), 64.7 (4-2) (46-28).
13: Stead, Auty, Bellego, Howe, 63.3 (4-2) (50-30).
14: (Re-run) Wilkinson, Bates, Proctor (fell, remounted), Lunna (fell, excluded), 65.1 (3-3) (53-33).
15: Stead, Auty, Birks, Wilkinson, 63.6 (4-2) (57-35).
*The return fixture between these two sides takes place at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Easter Monday (April 6th, 3pm).
