Scorpions vs Panthers preview
HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are due to be at full strength, when the club stages its opening home meeting of the season at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday (5.30pm), with Peterborough Panthers in opposition in the new-look SGB Championship.
To complete a busy weekend, Scorpions are also due in action north of the border at Glasgow on Saturday.
Lewis Kerr crashed out of last Friday’s 42-51 narrow loss at Peterborough with a battered wrist, while Josh Bailey was missing, having only recently had the metalwork removed from a collarbone injury sustained in August 2016. Both are due to return this weekend.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “I have plenty of optimism for the new season ahead.
“On Sunday, I’m expecting an exciting, close-fought encounter at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
“The meeting at Peterborough last week showed what a trump card that Fritz Wallner is going to be at reserve, while Michael Palm Toft put in an inspired performance as our skipper.
“All seven of our riders rode for us last season, so we’ll be dialled into the track straight away on Sunday. We’ll be determined to start our home meetings with a victory and there’s no reason why we can’t come out of it with three valuable league points.”
Scorpions have home meetings on each Sunday in April, starting with this week’s meeting. Subsequent weeks see Glasgow, Redcar, Edinburgh and Berwick as visitors.
Godfrey adds: “There’s much more continuity this season. We’re running the vast majority of Sundays until mid-September.
“We’ve put together what I firmly believe is a team which will be competitive and entertaining and exciting team to watch, in what looks like a very strong and close-fought league.
“Of course, our aim is the play-offs, as it is for every side in the SGB Championship. It’s going to be a thrilling ride, and I can’t think of any better place to be on Sundays than the Eddie Wright Raceway.”
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. Lewis Kerr, 4. Michael Palm Toft, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Fritz Wallner, 7. Josh Bailey.
Peterborough Panthers: 1. Jack Holder, 2. Simon Lambert, 3. Paul Starke, 4. Ulrich Ostergaard, 5. Kenneth Hansen, 6. Bradley Wilson-Dean, 7. Tom Bacon.
