Sam Chapman signs for Stags

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 29 MILDENHALL FEN TIGERS 63 (NATIONAL LEAGUE)

SCUNTHORPE STAGS have signed Cornishman Sam Chapman on a full contract, while the team succumbed 29-63 to the Mildenhall Fen Tigers at the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday (Good Friday).

The Stags almost began the meeting with a 5-1. Steve Jones and Chapman led for two laps, but Chapman’s bike did not appear to have enough speed and he dropped back to fourth behind Brendan Johnson and Darren Mallett, with Mallett only passing him on the final bend.

No 8 Michael Neale had a lively meeting for the Stags and would have scored double-figures but for a fall while leading on the final lap of Heat 3. Neale defeated Connor Coles in Heat 14, which put paid to any Fen Tiger scoring a maximum from the meeting.

Adam Extance was also a heat-winner, defeating Johnson and Jack Kingston in Heat 7.

Stags’ No 1 Jones was in the thick of the action all afternoon, including a good battle with Liam Carr and Mallett in Heat 15, which eventually ended up as a 5-1 to the visitors. Jones donned the black & white helmet colour in Heat 6 as a tactical ride, but had to settle for second place behind Tigers’ impressive youngster Connor Mountain.

Scotsman Ryan MacDonald picked up an impressive second place, in front of Liam Carr, in Heat 4. Both Danno Verge and Liam Sanderson gave their all, with Verge rewarded with a place in Heat 15.

The Fen Tigers, with guests and rider replacement replacing their top three, had a number of good young riders on show.

After the meeting, Sam Chapman – who scored a massively impressive 12 points against Cradley Heath last Sunday – signed a contract for Scunthorpe. He joins Danno Verge, Ryan MacDonald and Arron Mogridge as club assets.

Stags’ boss Richard Hollingsworth said: “As with all our meetings, I take the positives out of the meeting. We provided three heat winners (Steve Jones, Michael Neale and Adam Extance), and we were battling away in some of the other races.

“Michael Neale had a good meeting as our No 8 and would have got double-figures but for a fall on the last lap of Heat 3.

“As usual, the boys were putting in their all. Liam (Sanderson) fell in Heat 2, but then made sure he completed his next three races – which is valuable track time.

“Sam Chapman wasn’t able to trap like last week, and couldn’t work out what was different with his bike.

“We’re delighted that Sam has now signed for us and become part of the club. He comes from Cornwall. We could all see his potential in the Cradley match, when he nearly defeated Tom Perry in a couple of races.

“A number of our riders have signed a Scunthorpe contract. They have committed to us, just as we are committed to them. It is going to be fantastic to watch them all develop.”

SCUNTHORPE 29: Steve Jones 11, Michael Neale (No 8) 7, Ryan MacDonald 4, Adam Extance 4, Danno Verge 3+1, Sam Chapman 0, Liam Sanderson 0, Arron Mogridge R/R
MILDENHALL 63: Connor Mountain 13, Connor Coles 11+3, Liam Carr 11, Darren Mallett 10+2, Brendan Johnson 9+3, Jack Kingston 9+2, Josh Bates R/R