Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Plymouth Devils preview
ROB GODFREY, promoter of the Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions, insists that the team must find consistency, as they head into their opening Premier League fixture of the season, hosting the Plymouth Devils at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday early evening (start time 6.30pm).
The Scorpions’ results in the League Cup were highly varied, starting with the best of the bunch – a terrific away win at Ipswich Witches – and ending with the worst, a home thrashing by Peterborough.
Scunthorpe have yet to win a home meeting this season, and Godfrey wants to see that change on Sunday.
Godfrey says: “When you look at our performances across our six meetings so far, Ryan Douglas (pictured) has been excellent, especially when you consider he spent nearly the whole of last season on the sidelines with various injuries.
“Ashley Morris came in and did well against Peterborough; meanwhile, young Josh Bailey at No 7 has given his all and really got stuck in, and that’s all we can ask of him.
“But the other lads have been up-and-down and we really need to start finding some consistency and click as a unit, if we’re to make an impression in the Premier League this year.
“Success in the League Cup would have been a nice bonus, but to be honest, our priority is the league. The League Cup is out of the way, so we forget that, move on and concentrate on the league. The boys know that and have been working hard to put things right.”
Meanwhile, the Scorpions continue to use the rider replacement facility for Zdenek Holub, still out with a shoulder injury, after an aborted comeback in the Czech Republic. It is hoped that Holub will return for Scorpions’ away meeting at Berwick on April 30.
Godfrey adds: “With Zdenek still on his assessed figure, he’s second in our averages, and everyone can take a R/R ride for him, so we should be able to cover effectively for him on Sunday.
“When you’re using R/R, you need enough of your riders to be firing and that’s what we must ensure happens against the Devils, because we need to win that meeting.”
Plymouth Devils have a torrid start to the season, only just being saved from closure and haven’t won a meeting in 2016, but the Scorpions will not under-estimate their opponents.
There are 24 heats of action in total on Sunday, with a nine-race second half including a six-heat Midland Development League match between Scunthorpe & Buxton.
Admission prices for Sunday:
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 Sunday:
Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Auty, 2. Carl Wilkinson, 3. Alex Davies, 4. Ryan Douglas, 5. Rider replacement for Zdenek Holub, 6. Ashley Morris, 7. Josh Bailey.
Plymouth Devils: 1. Charlie Gjedde, 2. Sam Simota, 3. Jack Holder, 4. Todd Kurtz, 5. Kyle Newman, 6. Stefan Nielsen, 7. Ellis Perks.
Midland Development League teams:
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Chris Hay, 2. Lloyd Ditchburn, 3. Luke Whitehead, 4. Sam Chapman.
Buxton Junior Hitmen: 1. Ryan Burton, 2. William O’Keefe, 3. Joe Lawlor, 4. Connor Fletcher.
Plymouth Devils at EWR
|
Ave |
Ave |
Best |
||||||
|
Name |
Lge |
M |
R |
Pts |
BP |
(no BP) |
(w BP) |
Performance |
| Charlie Gjedde |
PL |
3 |
13 |
27 |
1 |
8.31 |
8.62 |
14 from 5 rides (2011) |
| Jack Holder |
PL |
1 |
6 |
8 |
1 |
5.33 |
6.00 |
8 + 1 from 6 rides (2015) |
| Todd Kurtz |
PL |
8 |
36 |
45 |
8 |
5.00 |
5.89 |
12 + 2 from 5 rides (2014) |
| Kyle Newman |
PL |
5 |
22 |
18 |
3 |
3.27 |
3.82 |
7 + 1 from 4 rides (2013) |
| Stefan Nielsen |
PL |
4 |
17 |
20 |
3 |
4.71 |
5.41 |
9 + 1 from 5 rides (2013) |
| Ellis Perks |
PL |
3 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
3.20 |
3.20 |
3 from 3 rides (2015) |
| Zdenek Simota |
PL |
2 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
3.56 |
4.00 |
5 from 5 rides (2015) |
Other Notes
Charlie Gjedde
Returning to British speedway following a three-year absence.
1995 Danish Under-21 Champion.
Member of Denmark’s 2006 World Cup Winning Team.
Member of Swindon’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2003.
Member of Swindon’s Elite League Pairs Winning Team in 2004.
Member of Newport’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Jack Holder
2011 Australian Under-16 350cc Champion.
2011 Australian Under-16 Pairs Champion.
Twice New South Wales Under-21 Champion (2013 and 2015).
2015 Victoria State Under-21 Champion.
2016 Australian Under-21 Champion.
Todd Kurtz
Member of Newport’s Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Somerset’s Premier Shield and Four-Team Championship Winning Teams in 2014.
Kyle Newman
Winner of Queensland State Under-21 Championships in 2011.
Member of Weymouth’s Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2008.
Member of Bournemouth’s National League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2009.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Poole’s Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Somerset’s League Cup Winning Team in 2012.
Member of Somerset’s Premier League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2013.
Member of Poole’s Elite League Championship Winning Teams in 2014 and 2015.
Member of Poole’s Elite Shield Winning Teams in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Stefan Nielsen
Former Scunthorpe Saint who was a member of the 2011 National League Championship Winning Team.
Twice British Under-19 Champion (2012 and 2013)
Member of Mildenhall’s 2012 National League Championship, KO Cup, Trophy and Fours Winning Teams.
Member of Somerset’s 2013 Premier League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams.
Ellis Perks
Began the 2015 season with the Scunthorpe Scorpions.
Zdenek Simota
Has ridden in 2 Grand Prixs and 5 World Cup meetings.
2004 Czech Republic Under-21 Champion.
Plymouth Devils’ PL Record at EWR
Meetings Ridden: 5
Won: 0
Drawn: 0
Lost: 5
Biggest Win: No wins to date
Heaviest Defeat: 56 – 34 (16 August 2013)
Last Visit: 53 – 40 (L – 11 September 2015)
