Awesome Auty helps Scorpions see off Bandits

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 49 BERWICK BANDITS 40 (SGB CHAMPIONSHIP)

MANAGER Dave Peet hailed his Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions’ riders, after they produced a “backs-to-the-wall performance” to take a 49-40 victory over Berwick Bandits at the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday (Sunday) – despite losing two riders to injury during the meeting.

Scorpions’ guest Ryan Burton crashed out with a broken collarbone in Heat 4, while Lewis Kerr – top-scorer in his last six appearances for Scorpions – crashed out of the meeting with arm injuries in Heat 9.

It left Scorpions with a sole representative, Carl Wilkinson, in Heat 12, and the scores still tight at 35-30 entering this race. But Wilko won his third race of the evening, and then Josh Auty and Michael Palm Toft took a 4-2 from Heat 13, with Auty winning a thrilling duel against Kyle Howarth.

Ryan Douglas and Carl Wilkinson secured the three points for Scorpions, by following home ex-Scorpions No 1 David Howe in Heat 14.

A further 4-2 from Auty and MPT in Heat 15 sent Bandits home without a point for their efforts, with Auty again winning a ding-dong battle with Howarth.

Early on, Bandits had led 22-20 after seven races. The meeting featured two fabulous rides by Scorpions off the 15-metre-handicap after tapes infringements. Palm Toft came through to finish second in Heat 6, while Tero Aarnio recovered the lost ground to join Wilkinson for a 5-1 in Heat 8.

Auty (13), Wilkinson (12+3) and Palm Toft (10) all scored double figures for Scorpions, while Howarth (12) was Bandits’ top man.

Peet said: “It was a very good team performance from us in the latter stages, seeing that we finished it with only five riders.

“We just couldn’t get away from them in the early stages – it was 3-3 after 3-3. Arguably it was the two riders off 15 metres, after touching the tapes, who turned the match in our favour.

“Michael Palm Toft produced a true captain’s ride in Heat 6, to come through to take second – and he nearly won it as well.

“And then Tero Aarnio came through to join Carl Wilkinson for a 5-1 in Heat 8, and that put us in front for the first time.

“We lost Lewis Kerr in the next race (Heat 9) and then it became a real backs-to-the-wall performance to win the meeting.

“But we had Wilko in the thick of the action at reserve, totting up the points, and then Josh Auty produced a real barnstorming finish to the meeting to win Heats 13 & 15 – it was vintage Josh.

“Ryan Douglas also scored valuable points. He was shoved wide in his opening ride, but rode well after that.

“Lewis has some damage to his forearm and wrist, but we believe he should be fit for our home meeting against Redcar next Sunday. And we wish Ryan Burton a speedy recovery from his broken collarbone.”

HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 49
1. Michael Palm Toft 3 2 3 1 1 (10)
2. Tero Aarnio 0 R 2* 1 (3+1)
3. Lewis Kerr 3 1* FX (4+1)
4. Ryan Douglas 0 2 3 2 (7)
5. Josh Auty 3 2 2 3 3 (13)
6. Carl Wilkinson 3 1* 3 1* 3 1* (12+3)
7. Ryan Burton (Guest) 0 F (0)

BERWICK BANDITS 40
1. Kyle Howarth (Guest) 2 3 3 2 2 (12)
2. Joe Jacobs 1* R 1 0 (2+1)
3. Dany Gappmaier 1* 3 0 2 (6+1)
4. David Howe 2 FX 2 3 0 (7)
5. Kevin Doolan 2 3 2 0 (7)
6. Rob Branford (Guest) 2 1 0 1* 0 (4+1)
7. Layne Cupitt (Guest) 1* 1* FX (2+2)

1: Palm Toft, Howarth, Jacobs, Aarnio, 56.65 (3-3) (3-3).
2: Wilkinson, Branford, Cupitt, Burton, 58.75 (3-3) (6-6).
3: Kerr, Howe, Gappmaier, Douglas, 57.56 (3-3) (9-9).
4: (Re-run) Auty, Doolan, Cupitt, Burton (fell), 58.00 (3-3) (12-12).
5: Howarth, Douglas, Kerr, Jacobs (ret), 57.06 (3-3) (15-15).
6: (Re-run) Doolan, Palm Toft (15m penalty for touching tapes), Branford, Aarnio (ret), 58.69 (2-4) (17-19).
7: (Re-run twice) Gappmaier, Auty, Wilkinson, Howe (fell, excluded), 58.82 (3-3) (20-22).
8: (Re-run) Wilkinson, Aarnio (15m penalty for touching tapes), Jacobs, Branford, 58.31 (5-1) (25-23).
9: (Re-run) Douglas, Doolan, Kerr (fell, excluded), Cupitt (fell, excluded), 58.25 (3-2) (28-25).
10: Palm Toft, Howe, Aarnio, Gappmaier 58.69 (4-2) (32-27).
11: Howarth, Auty, Wilkinson, Jacobs, 59.05 (3-3) (35-30).
12: Wilkinson, Gappmaier, Branford (three riders only), 58.68 (3-3) (38-33).
13: Auty, Howarth, Palm Toft, Doolan 58.54 (4-2) (42-35).
14: Howe, Douglas, Wilkinson, Branford, 59.51 (3-3) (45-38).
15: Auty, Howarth, Palm Toft, Howe, 59.00 (4-2) (49-40).