Super Scorpions supreme at Shielfield
BERWICK BANDITS 42 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 48 (SGB CHAMPIONSHIP)
HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions took an excellent away win at Berwick’s Shielfield Park stadium last night (Saturday). Scorpions triumphed by a final scoreline of 48-42 over the Bandits.
Many had written off Scunthorpe’s chances after Josh Auty was ruled out of the meeting with whiplash injuries and first choice guest Mark Riss proved unavailable, but Scorpions took control of proceedings from the off and stormed into a 37-23 lead after ten races.
Victory was sustained at a cost. Lewis Kerr crashed out of Heat 13, after being bustled out of the way by Lewis Bridger, and Kerr sustained mild concussion, which will rule him out of today’s clash (Sunday, 5.30pm) at the Eddie Wright Raceway against league leaders Edinburgh.
Skipper Michael Palm Toft again led Scorpions’ charge with a 13+2 return and he clinched victory by winning Heat 14 from behind.
But Scorpions’ top four all scored solidly, with Ryan Douglas (10), Kerr (9) and Carl Wilkinson (8+1) all having good meetings, while Tom Perry proved an excellent guest at No 6 with a 7+1 tally.
Scunthorpe provided nine heat winners to Berwick’s six, and four of Bandits’ wins came from reserve Dany Gappmaier who scored a sensational 16+1.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It was an excellent performance from the team. It went all to plan from the moment than Ryan Douglas and Carl Wilkinson banged in a 5-1 in the first race.
“There were times during the evening when you would have mistaken us for the home team – we were riding that well.
“Berwick threatened to come back at us, but we showed character in holding on to take the win. Michael Palm Toft had another great meeting, but all the lads rode well.
“Tom Perry proved to be a fantastic guest at No 6. We had originally booked Mark Riss, but when he signed for Wolverhampton, he pulled out, because it would have meant too many meetings on the trot for him. But Tom Perry went out and did the job that Mark Riss would have done, so we didn’t miss out.
“Lewis Bridger was very forceful in the way he came under Lewis Kerr in Heat 13, and unfortunately it meant that (our) Lewis sustained concussion in the resulting fall.
“It gives us a bit of a headache ahead of today’s clash with Edinburgh. I’ve booked Dimitri Berge as a guest for Josh Auty, while we’ll use rider replacement for Lewis.
“Berge has yet to show his best this season, but he’s very much a track specialist around the Eddie Wright Raceway and I believe he can deliver.”
BERWICK BANDITS 42
1. Lewis Bridger 1 0 X# 2* 3 (6+1)
2. Dimitri Berge 0 2 2 0 1 (5)
3. Liam Carr R 1 1 0 2 (4)
4. Claus Vissing R/R
5. Kevin Doolan 2 2* 2* 3 1 (10+2)
6. Dany Gappmaier 3 1 3 3 3 2 1* (16+1)
7. Tom Bacon (Guest) 1 0 0 (1)
8. Kieron Douglas DNR
HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 48
1. Ryan Douglas 3 2 3 1 1 F (10)
2. Carl Wilkinson 2* 3 R 3 0 (8+1)
3. Lewis Kerr 3 0 3 3 FX (9)
4. Michael Palm Toft 2* 1 3 2* 3 2 (13+2)
5. Josh Auty R/R
6. Tom Perry (Guest) 2 1 1 2* 1 (7+1)
7. Josh Bailey 0 1 0 (1)
# = tactical ride
1 (Re-run) Douglas, Wilkinson, Bridger, Berge, 67.2 (1-5) (1-5).
2: Gappmaier, Perry, Bacon, Bailey, 67.3 (4-2) (5-7).
3: Kerr, Palm Toft, Gappmaier. Carr (ret), 66.0 (1-5) (6-12).
4: Wilkinson, Doolan, Bailey, Bacon, 66.9 (2-4) (8-16).
5: Gappmaier, Douglas, Carr. Wilkinson (ret), 66.3 (4-2) (12-18).
6 (Re-run) Douglas, Berge, Perry, Bridger, 66.8 (2-4) (14-22).
7: Gappmaier, Doolan, Palm Toft, Kerr, 66.8 (5-1) (19-23).
8: Wilkinson, Berge, Perry, Bacon, 66.9 (2-4) (21-27).
9: Palm Toft, Perry, Carr, Berge, 57.7 (1-5) (22-32).
10: Kerr, Palm Toft, Berge, BRIDGER (TR) (excluded, lapped), 66.5 (1-5) (23-37).
11: Gappmaier, Doolan, Douglas, Wilkinson, 67.4 (5-1) (28-38).
12 (Re-run twice): Kerr, Gappmaier, Perry, Carr, 66.9 (2-4) (30-42).
13: Doolan, Bridger, Douglas, Kerr (fell, excluded), awarded – no time (5-1) (35-43).
14: Palm Toft, Carr, Gappmaier, Bailey, 68.1 (3-3) (38-46).
15: Bridger, Palm Toft, Doolan, Douglas (fell), 67.2 (4-2) (42-48).
