Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Glasgow Tigers preview

SCORPIONS OUT TO TOPPLE LEAGUE LEADERS

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are out to cause an upset when they host Premier League glamour club Glasgow Tigers at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday afternoon (4pm).

The earlier than usual start-time is to accommodate the supporters, riders and management of Glasgow, heading north after the British Grand Prix in Cardiff the previous day.

There is a renewed sense of self-belief in the Scorpions’ camp following an emphatic 53-37 home victory over Ipswich Witches last week, plus a battling 41-48 defeat at Redcar on Thursday.

Ryan Douglas has taken the move to No 1 in his stride, dropping just one point to an opposing rider in ten outings, while Josh Auty’s full maximum against the Witches was simply brilliant.

Most encouraging of all was the 12 heat winners provided against Ipswich.

“We want to win the meeting against Glasgow; I don’t care about the margin, we just want a win”, says Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey.

“We’d love to beat them, because we were humiliated up at Glasgow a couple of months ago, and we’d like to show them we’re a better team than that.

“It will be one of our biggest tests of the season, no doubt. Glasgow are both the pre-season title favourites and are currently top of the table.

“But other teams have proved this season that they are beatable, and we’ll be looking to do that as well.

“I’m sure the pundits will have marked this one down as an away win, but after the boost in confidence caused by our victory over Ipswich, I have every faith in the lads giving the Tigers one heck of a match and hopefully we’ll get the right result out of it at the end.

“I’m expecting the usual tip-top entertainment – last week’s racing was superb and it’s almost certain to be the same this week.”

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 and 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. Ryan Douglas, 2. Carl Wilkinson, 3. Alex Davies, 4. Lewis Kerr, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Michael Palm Toft, 7. Josh Bailey.

Glasgow Tigers: 1. Richard Lawson, 2. Coty Garcia, 3. Richie Worrall, 4. Rene Bach, 5. Aaron Summers, 6. Arthur Sissis (guest), 7. Danny Ayres.

Midland Development League teams:
Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Chris Hay, 2. Lloyd Ditchburn, 3. Luke Whitehead, 4. Lawrence Fielding.
Buxton Hitmen: 1. Ryan MacDonald, 2. Gavin Parr, 3. Josh Embleton, 4. TBA.

Glasgow Tigers at EWR

GUEST

Other Notes

Danny Ayres
Member of Kent’s 2015 National League Pairs Winning Team.
Riding in his first season of Premier League racing.
Also riding for Kent in the 2016 National League.

Rene Bach
Member of Denmark’s World Under-21 Team Cup Winning Team in 2010.
2010 Danish Under-21 Champion.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Trophy, KO Cup and Play-Off Winning Teams in 2010.
Member of Workington’s 2012 Premier League Pairs Winning Duo.

Fernando Garcia
Made his Premier League debut for Berwick in June 2015 against Pymouth.

Richard Lawson
Member of Workington’s Premier League Fours Winning Team in 2009.
Member of Workington’s Young Shield Winning Team in 2010.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Lakeside for the 2016 Elite League Season.

Aaron Summers
Australian Under-16 Champion in 2004.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Championship and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2008.
Member of Edinburgh’s Premier League Play-Off Winning Teams in 2008 and 2009.
Member of Coventry’s Elite League Winning Team in 2010.
Member of Birmingham’s Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2010.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Leicester for the 2016 Elite League Season.

Richie Worrall
Former Scunthorpe Saint and a member of the 2011 National League Winning Team.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League Cup and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2012.
Member of Newcastle’s Premier League Cup and Premier Shield Winning Teams in 2013.
Named as a ‘doubling-up’ rider with Belle Vue for the 2016 Elite League Season.

GUEST

Arthur Sissis
2008/2009 Australian Under-16 Champion.

Glasgow Tigers’ Record at EWR

Meetings Ridden: 10

Won: 1
Drawn: 0
Lost: 9

Biggest Win: 47 – 42 (19 June 2015)
Heaviest Defeat: 62 – 30 (3 September 2010)

Last Visit: 47 – 42 (W – 19 June 2015)