Hard-fought point for Scorpions
NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 46 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 44 (Championship Shield)
HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions moved to the top of their Championship Shield group, by picking up what could prove an invaluable point in a 44-46 loss at Newcastle last night (Sunday).
However, with a little bit of fortune, Scorpions could have picked up three points for a victory, rather than one point for an away loss by six points or less.
Scorpions’ American star Gino Manzares suffered an engine failure with just a bend remaining in Heat 4, while he was set for a 5-1 with Jason Garrity. That would have brought Scorpions level at 12-12, but instead they were left with a deficit that fluctuated behind two and eight points during the evening.
With two heats remaining, Scorpions were 35-43 behind. But a 4-2 from Manzares and Jake Allen in Heat 14 was followed by a 5-1 from Garrity and Josh Auty in Heat 15 secured the bonus point.
Garrity scored 13+1 from five rides, which means he has just dropped a single point to the opposition in two meetings for the Scorpions in 2018.
Auty (pictured) also scored 13+1, having taken an extra tactical substitute ride in Heat 6, and finished with a superb hat-trick of wins.
Scorpions’ team manager Dave Peet said: “I’m convinced we would have won the meeting, had Gino Manzares not suffered his unfortunate engine failure in sight of the chequered flag in Heat 4.
“The 5-1 in that race would have pulled us level, and we could have built on that, but instead we were left chasing all night.
“Gino had to switch to his second bike in Heat 8 and we conceded a 5-1. He made a few changes to the bike for Heat 14 and went out and got a key win for us, which set us up to pick up the point.
“Jason Garrity and Josh Auty were both superb, while I was really impressed by the spirit that was shown by the lads throughout the meeting. If we show that kind of spirit, we’re certainly be winning more meetings than we lose this season.
“Well done to Newcastle on their victory, while we have to take the plus that we travelled to one of the most difficult tracks in the league and came out of the meeting with a point, despite a few falls and a bit of bad luck with an engine failure.
“It’s very early days, but we’re now top of our Championship Shield group and we need to ensure that we stay there.”
NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 46
1. Ludvig Lindgren 3 0 1* 3 0 (7+1)
2. Tero Aarnio MX 2 3 2 (7)
3. Lewis Rose 3 3 1* 1* (8+2)
4. Matthew Wethers 0 1 2 2 (5)
5. Stuart Robson 1* 3 0 1 1 (6+1)
6. Carl Wilkinson 3 0 2 0 (5)
7. Ashley Morris 1 1 2 2* 2 (8+1)
HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 44
1. Lewis Kerr (Guest) 0 2 3 R (5)
2. Stefan Nielsen 2 0 FX 1 (3)
3. Josh Auty 2 1 1* 3 3 3 (13+1)
4. Jake Allen 1* 2 0 1 (4+1)
5. Jason Garrity 3 3 3 2 2* (13+1)
6. Danny Phillips R FX 0 (0)
7. Gino Manzares 2 R 1 3 (6)
1: (Re-run) Lindgren, Nielsen, Morris, Kerr, Aarnio (excluded, two minutes), 65.3 (4-2) (4-2).
2: Wilkinson, Manzares, Morris, Phillips (fell, remounted, retired), 66.5 (4-2) (8-4).
3: Rose, Auty, Allen, Wethers, 66.0 (3-3) (11-7).
4: Garrity, Morris, Robson, Manzares (ret), 66.3 (3-3) (14-10).
5: Rose, Kerr, Wethers, Nielsen, 64.9 (4-2) (18-12).
6: Garrity, Aarnio, Auty (TS), Lindgren, 66.4 (2-4) (20-16).
7: Robson, Allen, Auty, Wilkinson, 65.7 (3-3) (23-19).
8: Aarnio, Morris, Manzares, Nielsen (fell, excluded), no time – awarded (5-1) (28-20).
9: (Re-run) Garrity, Wethers, Rose, Phillips (fell, excluded) 3-3 (31-23).
10: Auty, Aarnio, Lindgren, Allen, 66.1 (3-3) (34-26).
11: Kerr, Wilkinson, Nielsen, Robson, 67.5 (2-4) (36-30).
12: Auty, Morris, Rose, Phillips, 66.7 (3-3) (39-33).
13: Lindgren, Garrity, Robson, Kerr (ret), 66.0 (4-2) (43-35).
14: Manzares, Wethers, Allen, Wilkinson, 67.1 (2-4) (45-39).
15: Auty, Garrity, Robson, Lindgren, 66.5 (1-5) (46-44).
* BOTH Stefan Nielsen and Danny Phillips both suffered nasty crashes during the meeting, but both are fine.
* HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are in action twice this week – both against their local rivals. They travel to Sheffield on Thursday, before entertaining the Tigers in the return fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (7.30pm). Richard Lawson is due to guest for the injured Steve Worrall on Thursday, while ex-Scorpion Thomas Jorgensen will step in on Friday.
