Scorpions show fighting spirit after slow start
REDCAR BEARS 53 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 40 (LEAGUE CUP)
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, showed fighting spirit to get themselves back into contention at Redcar last night (Thursday), but ultimately it was the Bears who triumphed by 53-40 in the League Cup clash at the Media Prima Arena.
The Scorpions made a disastrous start to slip 14 points behind after just six races, but recovered the deficit to just three points mid-meeting.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “There were just so many positives I can take out of this meeting. Theo Pijper, Alex Davies and Nike Lunna have all improved, and joined Josh Auty and Carl Wilkinson amongst the points. We’re not far away from firing on all cylinders. I’m convinced we just need one win under our belts and then we’ll be away.”
The Scorpions started slowly, with Pijper excluded from Heat 1, for exceeding the two minute time allowance due to mechanical problems.
With the Bears providing each of the first six heat winners, they took an early 25-11 advantage, but the next two races saw the Scorpions fight back. Wilkinson (pictured) won his Tactical Ride in Heat 7, and Davies fought past Matej Kus to join his partner for an 8-1. That was followed by a 5-1 from Pijper and Lunna in Heat 8, as the scoreline moved to a narrow 27-24 lead for the Bears.
Scunthorpe could have taken the lead with a 5-1 in Heat 11. Pijper and David Howe were first away, but Bjerre passed Howe, who then pulled out with an engine failure. Nevertheless, Pijper held off Bjerre, to inflict the Dane’s only defeat of the evening.
The final four races saw Redcar stretch back away, despite the Scorpions battling away.
REDCAR BEARS 53
1. Lasse Bjerre 3 3 3 2 3 3 (17)
2. Jan Graversen 2* 3 2* 0 0 (7+2)
3. Matej Kus 1 3 1 1* 3 (9+1)
4. Hugh Skidmore 3 0 2 1 3 2* (11+1)
5. R/R for Stuart Robson
6. Rafal Konopka 3 0 1* 1 (5+1)
7. Ben Morley 1 1 1 1 (4)
FLUIDAIR POWER SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS SUPPORTED BY HENDERSON INSURANCE 40
1. David Howe 1 2 R 0 (3)
2. Theo Pijper MX 1* 3 3 0 (7+1)
3. Alex Davies 0 2* 2 2 (6+1)
4. Carl Wilkinson 2 6# 1* 2 (11+1)
5. Josh Auty 2 1 3 2 1 (9)
6. Ellis Perks F 0 0 0 (0)
7. Nike Lunna 0 2 0 2* 0 (4+1)
# = tactical ride
1: Bjerre, Graversen, Howe, Lunna, Pijper (excluded, two minutes) (5-1) (5-1).
2: (Re-run) Konopka, Lunna, Morley, Perks (fell) (4-2) (9-3).
3: Skidmore, Wilkinson, Kus, Davies (4-2) (13-5).
4: Graversen, Auty, Morley, Lunna (4-2) (17-7).
5: Kus, Howe, Pijper, Skidmore (3-3) (20-10).
6: Bjerre, Graversen, Auty, Perks (5-1) (25-11).
7: WILKINSON (TR), Davies, Kus, Konopka (1-8) (26-19).
8: Pijper, Lunna, Morley, Graversen (1-5) (27-24).
9: Auty, Skidmore, Kus, Perks (3-3) (30-27).
10: Bjerre, Davies, Wilkinson, Graversen (3-3) (33-30).
11: Pijper, Bjerre, Konopka, Howe (ret) (3-3) (36-33).
12: Kus, Davies, Morley, Perks (4-2) (40-35).
13: Bjerre, Auty, Skidmore, Howe (4-2) (44-37).
14: Skidmore, Wilkinson, Konopka, Lunna (4-2) (48-39).
15: Bjerre, Skidmore, Auty, Pijper (5-1) (53-40).
* The Scorpions entertain the Newcastle Diamonds at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight (Friday, 7.30pm), and will be looking to post their first win of the season.
