Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Rye House Rockets preview
FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions are looking to record their first Premier League win of the season, when they entertain the Rye House Rockets at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday evening (7.30pm).
The Scorpions picked up a well-deserved draw at Rye House last Saturday, and looking to build on that result.
Scunthorpe’s current record in the Premier League doesn’t make pleasant reading at first glance: Matches 4 Wins 0 Drawn 1 Lost 3 Points 3.
However, three of those four meetings have been away from home, while the only two of those meetings that the Scorpions have left empty-handed have been the home-and-away clashes to reigning Premier League champions Edinburgh, who appear to have again put together a very strong side in 2015.
Having dropped three points at home to the Monarchs, but having picked up three points away from home – one point from a narrow defeat at Berwick (44-46) and two points from the draw at Rye House (45-45) – the Scorpions are currently on parity.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “We need to beat Rye House around the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday.
“But we can’t afford to be complacent. It was a great performance to take a draw from Hoddesdon on Saturday, but Rye House are not going to roll over on Friday.”
The Rockets include England international Edward Kennett at No 1, who scored an 18-point maximum on Saturday.
Godfrey adds: “Edward Kennett is a class act, while we all know how well Anders Mellgren can go around our place.
“But Alex Davies had a fantastic meeting at home to Edinburgh, and likewise Theo Pijper put in a great performance at Rye House.
“We need Alex and Theo, along with Josh (Auty) and Wilko (Carl Wilkinson), to be in top form, because we’re a little exposed at reserve without Nike Lunna, who is one of the reserves at the Finnish Grand Prix this weekend.
“It will be a great experience for Nike, rubbing shoulders with the best riders in the world, and I’m chuffed for him.
“However, he is now on a 3.00 average, so we’re restricted on guests. We’ve gone for Rafal Konopka, who showed plenty of speed around here a few weeks ago for Redcar and scored paid six. It would have been more, but for a couple of falls, so we’ll get Rafal nicely settled down for Friday’s meeting and see how he goes.”
Matt Williamson is again set to guest for Ellis Perks on Friday night, while the Scorpions will continue to use rider replacement for David Howe, who is still on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
Admission prices for Friday:
Adult: £15.00
Student/OAP: £13.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £35 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00
Expected teams for Friday:
FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance: 1. Josh Auty, 2. Theo Pijper, 3. Rider replacement for David Howe, 4. Carl Wilkinson, 5. Alex Davies, 6. Matt Williamson (guest), 7. Rafal Konopka (guest).
Rye House Rockets: 1. Edward Kennett, 2. Rider replacement for Steve Boxall, 3. Anders Mellgren, 4. Robin Aspegren, 3. Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen, 6. Dan Greenwood, 7. Kasper Lykke Nielsen.
Rye House Rockets at EWR
Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance
Robin Aspegren PL 5 18 28 5 6.22 7.33 11 + 1 from 6 rides (2012)
Steve Boxall PL 2 8 5 0 2.50 2.50 3 from 4 rides (2009)
Daniel Greenwood DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR
Edward Kennett PL 1 5 9 1 7.20 8.00 12 + 1 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2014))
Kasper Lykke Nielsen PL 3 18 16 5 3.56 4.67 7 + 3 from 6 rides (2013)
Anders Mellgren PL 6 29 46 3 6.35 6.76 10 + 2 from 5 rides (2015)
Other Notes
Robin Aspegren
Member of Newport’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Steve Boxall
2005 Conference League Riders’ Champion.
2013 National League Riders’ Champion.
Member of Rye House’s Premier Challenge Trophy Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Rye House’s Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2007.
Member of Rye House’s Premier League Championship and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2005.
Member of Rye House’s Conference League Fours Winning Team in 2003.
Daniel Greenwood
2007 British Under-15 Champion.
Member of Dudley’s National League Championship, KO Cup and National League Shield Winning Teams in 2013.
Member of Dudley’s National League Shield Winning Team in 2012.
Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen
Rode in 1 Grand Prix meeting and has appeared in World Under-21 Finals.
Riding in his debut British League season.
Edward Kennett
Twice British Under-21 Champion (2005 and 2007).
Has ridden in 3 Grand Prix’s and has represented Team GB in 7 World Cup meetings.
Member of Rye House’s Premier League Championship and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2005.
Member of Coventry’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2010.
Member of Eastbourne’s Elite League KO Cup Winning Team in 2008.
Kasper Lykke Nielsen
Member of Rye House’s Premier Challenge Trophy Winning Team in 2012.
Helped his Country reach the 2011 European Under-19 Team Championship.
Anders Mellgren
Named in the 2014 Scorpions line-up but, unfortunately was injured in only his second meeting for the club.
Member of Rye House’s Premier Challenge Trophy Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Newport’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Rye House Rockets’ Results at EWR
19 September 2008 PL W Scunthorpe 40 Rye House 53
17 April 2009 PT L Scunthorpe 52 Rye House 43
14 August 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Rye House 41
16 October 2009 YS S/F L Scunthorpe 51 Rye House 42
04 July 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 55 Rye House 37
08 April 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 56 Rye House 38
07 September 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 58 Rye House 34
12 July 2013 PL L Scunthorpe 47 Rye House 46
18 July 2014 PL L Scunthorpe 60 Rye House 35
* The FluidAir Power Scorpions, supported by Henderson Insurance, are also involved in action north of the border at Glasgow on Sunday afternoon (3pm).
