Scorpions looking to bounce back against Diamonds
IPSWICH WITCHES 60 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 32 (SGB CHAMPIONSHIP)
HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are seeking to bounce straight back when they entertain the Newcastle Diamonds at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight (Friday, 7.30pm) – after the disappointment of a 32-60 defeat at Ipswich last night (Thursday).
Scunthorpe’s challenge at Foxhall Heath never really got going, although there was a pleasing race win for youngster Josh Bailey in Heat 2, while Tero Aarnio (pictured, alongside Lewis Kerr) brushed aside any concerns over his thumb injury to top score for Scorpions with 10 points.
Scunthorpe received a fresh injury worry with Michael Palm Toft suffered an injury to his coccyx in a Heat 6 fall. The Dane took one more ride before withdrawing from the meeting.
Scorpions’ team manager Dave Peet said: “Three of our riders had a decent night at Ipswich last night – Tero Aarnio, Josh Auty and Josh Bailey.
“Tero looked steady and consistent. He didn’t look too bothered with his thumb injury, although he was complaining of a bit of pain after his fifth ride, so I told him to put an ice pack on it. He should be OK for today.
“Josh Auty battled for every point he scored, while Josh Bailey did his job. He made the start and had a good ride in Heat 2.
“But otherwise the rest of the team were inconsistent and struggling with machinery problems. They need to sort those out, because otherwise they are not scoring many, and when you’re not scoring, you’re not earning.
“We’ve also got a concern over Michael (Palm Toft). The coccyx injury looked a painful one; he had to pull out of the meeting because he couldn’t sit on the bike.
“We need to get some confidence back in the camp, and the way we can do that is by beating Newcastle at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight.
“We’ve got to come out firing on all cylinders, and get the right result. One good meeting and the confidence soon floods back – and that’s what we need right now.”
IPSWICH WITCHES 60
1. Daniel King 3 2* 3 3 3 (14+1)
2. Kyle Newman 1 3 3 1 (8)
3. Cameron Heeps 2* 3 3 3 2* (13+2)
4. Justin Sedgmen 3 0 2* 3 (8+1)
5. Rory Schlein 3 3 3 2* (11+1)
6. Rob Branford (Guest) 1* 0 1 0 (2+1)
7. Connor Mountain 2 1 0 1 (4)
HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 32
1. Lewis Kerr 0 1* R 1 (2+1)
2. Tero Aarnio 2 2 2 4# 0 (10)
3. Josh Auty 1 1* 2 2 1 (7+1)
4. Ryan Douglas 0 2 0 2 (4)
5. Michael Palm Toft 2 FX 1 (3)
6. Carl Wilkinson 0 1 1* F (2+1)
7. Josh Bailey 3 0 0 0 1* (4+1)
# = tactical ride
1: King, Aarnio, Newman, Kerr, 56.3 (4-2) (4-2).
2: Bailey, Mountain, Branford, Wilkinson, 58.8 (3-3) (7-5).
3: Sedgmen, Heeps, Auty, Douglas, 57.2 (5-1) (12-6).
4: Schlein, Palm Toft, Mountain, Bailey, 57.7 (4-2) (16-8).
5: (Re-run) Heeps, Aarnio, Kerr, Sedgmen, 57.7 (3-3) (19-11).
6: (Re-run) Newman, King, Wilkinson, Palm Toft (fell, excluded), 57.0 (5-1) (24-12).
7: (Re-run) Schlein, Douglas, Auty, Branford, 56.8 (3-3) (27-15)
8: Newman, Aarnio, Wilkinson, Mountain, 58.3 (3-3) (30-18).
9: Heeps, Sedgmen, Palm Toft, Bailey, 57.3 (5-1) (35-19).
10: King, Auty, Newman, Douglas, 57.2 (4-2) (39-21).
11: Schlein, AARNIO (TR), Branford (fell, remounted), Kerr (ret), 58.0 (4-4) (43-25).
12: Heeps, Auty, Mountain, Wilkinson (fell), 57.9 (4-2) (47-27).
13: King, Schlein, Kerr, Bailey, 57.3 (5-1) (52-28).
14: Sedgmen, Douglas, Bailey, Branford, 57.9 (3-3) (55-31).
15: King, Heeps, Auty, Aarnio, 57.3 (5-1) (60-32).
