Richard Hollingsworth’s Stags Blog: No 1

A NEW, irregular feature from Scunthorpe Stags’ chairman and team manager Richard Hollingsworth. Here he reflects on the Stags’ opening match of 2014, the 21-62 home reverse to the Kent Kings.

Well that was an eventful first Stags’ meeting.

I’m absolutely gutted for Reece Downes and Arron Mogridge who got injured, whilst it seems Tyler Govier may have aggravated an old injury. I want to thank them all for their efforts and wish them all a speedy recovery.

However, without those injuries, I’d say Day One of the Stags was looking like an overwhelming success. Against a vastly experienced side, there was at least one good race from each of the six who got as far as Heat 14 and general improvement from most.

I have little doubt each and everyone are going to come on as the season progresses.

Steve Jones raced hard and improved as the meeting went on. He was clear in heat 15 before the crash behind him.

Ryan MacDonald was one of only two riders making their NL debut and rode well to defeat Dan Blake in Heat 8 before Luke Chessell packed up and allowed Ryan a heat win in his first meeting.

Danno Verge was really on the pace, rode the slick track well and even caught some Kings’ riders. Once he’s mastered the first 50 metres he’s going to be fantastic.

Tyler Govier was sadly struggling with a long-standing injury that we thought had cleared up. It led to him pulling up briefly in his first two and falling in his final ride. However, in his last ride he rode really well to head Dan Blake for second place by a distance going into the last bend before his fall. Tyler is going to go to hospital to have his wrist and shoulder checked over and has vowed to return to when he is fit again. Officially he’s not in our 1-7 but hopefully we can give him another chance when he is fully fit. He definitely deserves it.

I’m obviously gutted for Arron Mogridge, because he had ridden well all meeting and deserved his heat 15 nomination, where he’d gated alongside Simon Lambert and Ben Morley. Sadly the three got tangled in the first turn and it means Arron is going to be out for a while. He has a badly broken finger which is going to need operating on. Sadly he will be out for a while but he will hopefully take comfort from his Stags’ debut.

Liam Sanderson took seven rides today and probably learnt seven lessons along the way. The important thing is he is learning but he should be very proud of his first meeting. He won his first race after leading the first running, and was in scoring positions on two other occasions before making mistakes. After only 9 months on a 500cc bike, it is obvious there is real potential in him.

As for poor Reece Downes, he was so excited to be finally pulling on a Stags’ race jacket and there is little doubt he will do well. Sadly a first bend coming together in heat two meant a broken wrist and a trip to hospital. Hopefully he, like all the others, will soon be on the mend.

Well done Stags, you did yourselves proud!

RICHARD