Scunthorpe Scorpions vs Redcar Bears: preview

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions intend to send out a message to the rest of the sides in the league, when they entertain the Redcar Bears in Championship Shield action at the Eddie Wright Raceway tomorrow (Friday, 7.30pm).

The meeting has become Scorpions’ first meeting of the season, after a dreadfully wet Bank Holiday weekend put paid to the visit of Edinburgh on Easter Sunday.

Promoter Rob Godfrey says: “We’ve already stated our aim to be in contention in every competition in 2018, and that starts with the Championship Shield.

“We’re in a group with Redcar, Newcastle and Sheffield, with only the winner guaranteed a place in the semi-finals.

“It goes without saying that winning all three home matches is a must if we want to top the group, but we also want to be picking up points on the road too.

“We won’t under-estimate Redcar. Ben Barker, their No 1, is always a strong performer around the Eddie Wright Raceway, while they have a decent reserve pairing in Tobias Busch and ex-Scorpion Theo Pijper.

“But, at the same time, they two riders who have never ridden British Speedway before – Mikkel B Andersen and Jordan Stewart – so it might take them time to dial in.

“As I said, we won’t under-estimate them, but I feel we need to get a big score on the board and set the standard for the rest of the group.”

Although it will be Scorpions’ first meeting of 2018, several of their riders have already been in action.

Godfrey adds: “I’m expecting a good work-out for our lads as we bid to shake off the winter cobwebs. Stevie Worrall is probably back into the groove already as he’s had outings for his Premiership club Belle Vue, as well as a couple of individual meetings.

“Jason Garrity and Gino Manzares also rode, with Steve, in the Rico Spring Classic at Lakeside and Danny Phillips has had two matches for his National League side Coventry already, including a top-scoring 11 paid 12 performance away at Belle Vue which augurs well for him.”

Looking ahead to the whole campaign, Godfrey reflects: “The team has been transformed from the one we started with this time last year, with Josh Auty the only survivor from 12 months ago.

“We welcome back two riders who were with us last season, albeit briefly because of injury. Jake Allen and Stefan Nielsen both joined the team last summer, were both a breath of fresh air, but neither managed as much racing as they would have liked because of injury.

“I’m delighted they’re both fully fit and raring to go again now, and it’s a pleasure to have them back in the side.

“The same can be said of Steve Worrall and Danny Phillips, two riders who have had the Eddie Wright Raceway as their home track in the past at National League level. Steve rejoins us now as one of the top British riders in the country, and we all recognise that we needed more firepower at the top end of the team and Steve certainly brings that to the table.

“Danny’s 2017 season ended prematurely thanks to a crash at Mildenhall last May in which he sustained serious injuries. We had a number of options open to us in terms of our final signing at reserve and there were some very plausible candidates, but Danny was the pick of the bunch and he’s determined to get his career right back on track.

“We have two complete newcomers to Scunthorpe in Jason Garrity and Gino Manzares. We’ve seen what Jason can do at the Eddie Wright Raceway in the past, and as well as the points he scores, he’s sure to up the entertainment quota too.

“Gino has been out of British racing for the last couple of seasons after heading back to America following his last spell with Ipswich in 2015 but returns determined to get his career back on course over here. I’m over the moon to have signed him.

“I firmly believe we have the best team we’ve ever managed to put together and I have every confidence that 2018 will be our year”, Godfrey concludes.

Admission prices for Friday:

Adult: £16.00
Student/OAP: £14.00
Child (10 – 17): £5.00
Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)
Family Ticket £37 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17)
Match Programme: £1.00

Expected teams for Friday:

Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Steve Worrall (captain), 2. Stefan Nielsen, 3. Josh Auty, 4. Jake Allen, 5. Jason Garrity, 6. Danny Phillips, 7. Gino Manzares.

Redcar Bears: 1. Ben Barker, 2. Jordan Stewart, 3. Jonas B. Andersen, 4. Mikkel B. Andersen, 5. Matej Kus, 6. Tobias Busch, 7. Theo Pijper.