Scorpions take positives out of opening defeat

FLUID-AIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions succumbed 42-48 to local rivals Sheffield Tigers at the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday afternoon (Sunday), in their opening meeting of the 2014 season.

The Scorpions held a narrow lead for the first 11 races of the League Cup encounter, but successive maximum heats for the Tigers in Heats 12 & 13 proved decisive, with Josh Auty suffering a harsh exclusion from the latter race.

Top scorers for the Scorpions were new signing Anders Mellgren, who inflicted the only defeat on Tigers’ No 1 Simon Stead in Heat 1; and skipper Ashley Birks, in his first meeting back following serious back injuries.

Scunthorpe were without Australian reserve Ryan Douglas. He has been granted the necessary visa to ride for the Scorpions this season, and is just awaiting for it to arrive before he can pop on a plane. It is hoped he will receive the visa today (Monday), so that he can arrive in the UK in time for Scunthorpe’s meeting at Redcar on Thursday.

The Sheffield trump card was Andre Compton who scored paid 11 from reserve.

Scorpions’ team manager Dave Peet said: ““Obviously we’re disappointed to lose, but we can take some positives from the meeting.

“Ashley (Birks) rode like he’d never been away. He showed no ill effects from the injuries he sustained at the end of last season.

“Anders (Mellgren) rode well – and he’s only going to get better each week once he gets used to riding here every week. Josh (Auty) looked very fast; he was a bit unlucky to be excluded from the re-run of Heat 13.

“James Sargeant did an excellent job for us as a guest; I couldn’t fault him at all. He went out and beat Andre Compton in Heat 2, and took a fine 5-1 with David Howe in Heat 8.

“But we did miss Ryan Douglas in the final stages of the meeting – we will be stronger once Ryan is over here.”

SCUNTHORPE 42: Anders Mellgren 10+1, Ashley Birks 10+1, Josh Auty 7, Thomas Jorgensen 5+1, James Sarjeant 5+1, David Howe 5, Matt Williamson 0.
SHEFFIELD 48: Simon Stead 14, Andre Compton 10+1, Adam Roynon 8+2, Leigh Lanham 7+1, Josh Bates 5, Taylor Poole 2+2, Simon Nielsen 2.