First blood to Monarchs, Round Two on Monday!
EDINBURGH MONARCHS 53 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 39 (PREMIER LEAGUE)
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, lost 39-53 at reigning Premier League champions Edinburgh last night (Friday).
But it has only strengthened the resolve of the Scorpions to take revenge against their Scottish rivals, when the two teams meet again at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We walk away from Edinburgh with our heads held up high. We made a meeting out of it. There are a lot of teams that we will leave Armadale with far less points than we achieved.
“When I look at their team and look at ours, and how both sets of riders go at the Eddie Wright Raceway, I’m convinced we can beat them around our place on Bank Holiday Monday.”
The main difference between the sides last night was the heat-leader strength of the Monarchs, with both Sam Masters and Kevin Wolbert recording 15-point maximums, while Craig Cook had posted two wins when he crashed out of the meeting in Heat 11.
The Scorpions briefly took a 7-5 lead after a 4-2 from Nike Lunna and guest Matt Williamson in Heat 2.
But the Monarchs then took control with four successive heat advantages.
Scunthorpe finished the match well and actually outscored the Monarchs 16-14 across the final five races.
Carl Wilkinson ended up as the Scorpions’ top scorer (12), after he scored five second places in a solid performance, while Josh Auty (9+1), Theo Pijper (8+2) and Nike Lunna (6+2) also got in amongst the points.
Alex Davies would have scored more, but for a fall in Heat 10 while set for a second place.
Scunthorpe had to change their line-up at the last minute, after it was found the average issued to Alex Davies for May was incorrect. Hence Davies rode at No 3 and Nike Lunna at No 7.
Godfrey commented: “There was a lot of dialogue regarding Alex Davies’s average before the start of the meeting. Basically someone made a big mistake and issued Alex with the wrong figure for May.
“A week ago, we were told what Alex’s average would be from May 1st. Well, the meeting at Edinburgh took place on May 1st, but at the eleventh hour, Alex was issued with a different average.
“I was disappointed with the way it happened so late. I will be seeking some clarity on the matter, to understand how he was given an incorrect average in the first place.
“But we didn’t dwell on that once the meeting began. The whole team chipped in, and fair play to Matt Williamson, who came into the side and gave it a go.
“Nike Lunna looked very comfortable. He’s had a few machinery problems recently, so he’s shipped over a Jawa from Finland, and he looked very polished on it. In the end, it did help him that he was still at reserve.”
EDINBURGH MONARCHS 53
1. Sam Masters 3 3 3 3 3 (15)
2. Erik Riss R/R
3. Kevin Wolbert 3 3 3 3 3 (15)
4. Kevin Doolan (Guest) 1 2* 2* 3 R (8+2)
5. Craig Cook 3 3 FX (6)
6. Max Clegg 0 2 2* 0 1 1 0 (6+1)
7. Rob Branford FX TX 1 1 1 0 (3)
FLUIDAIR POWER SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS SUPPORTED BY HENDERSON INSURANCE 39
1. Josh Auty 2 1 3 1* 2 (9+1)
2. David Howe R/R
3. Alex Davies 0 0 1* F 2 (3+1)
4. Carl Wilkinson 2 2 4# 2 2 (12)
5. Theo Pijper 1* 1 2 1 2 1* (8+2)
6. Matt Williamson 1 0 0 (1)
7. Nike Lunna 3 0 0 2* 0 1* (6+2)
# = tactical ride
1: Masters, Auty, Pijper, Clegg, 55.4 (3-3) (3-3).
2: (Re-run) Lunna, Clegg, Williamson, Branford (fell, excluded), 57.9 (2-4) (5-7).
3: Wolbert, Wilkinson, Doolan, Davies, 56.1 (4-2) (9-9).
4: (Re-run) Cook, Clegg, Pijper, Lunna, Branford (excluded, tape touching), 58.1 (5-1) (14-10).
5: Wolbert, Doolan, Auty, Davies, 55.7 (5-1) (19-11).
6: Masters, Pijper, Branford, Williamson, 56.4 (4-2) (23-13).
7: Cook, Wilkinson, Davies, Clegg, 56.3 (3-3) (26-16).
8: Wolbert, WILKINSON (TR), Branford, Lunna, 56.1 (4-4) (30-20).
9: Wolbert, Doolan, Pijper, Williamson, 56.2 (5-1) (35-21).
10: Masters, Wilkinson, Clegg, Davies (fell), 56.4 (4-2) (39-23).
11: (Re-run) Auty, Lunna, Branford, Cook (fell, excluded), 57.7 (1-5) (40-28).
12: Wolbert, Davies, Clegg, Lunna, 57.4 (4-2) (44-30).
13: Masters, Pijper, Auty, Branford, 56.7 (3-3) (47-33).
14: Doolan, Wilkinson, Lunna, Clegg, 58.0 (3-3) (50-36).
15: Masters, Auty, Pijper, Doolan (ret), 57.5 (3-3) (53-39).
* The Scorpions are involved in a Knockout Cup tie at Newcastle on Sunday evening (6.30pm).
* Bank Holiday Monday’s action at the Eddie Wright Raceway is a double-header featuring the Scorpions vs Edinburgh Monarchs in Premier League action, followed by Scunthorpe Stags vs Halifax Dukes in a National League challenge match. The start-time of this mouth-watering afternoon of thrilling speedway action is 3pm.
