Five-star performance from brilliant Scorpions

FIVE-STAR PERFORMANCE FROM BRILLIANT SCORPIONS
SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 56 SHEFFIELD TIGERS 34 (CHAMPIONSHIP KNOCKOUT CUP, quarter-final, 2nd leg)
Scunthorpe win 95-85 on aggregate, and progress to cup semi-finals

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions returned back to form with a superb 56-34 victory over local rivals Sheffield Tigers in Knockout Cup action at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday). The result clinched a 95-85 aggregate win for Scorpions, and takes them to the semi-finals of the second-tier competition for only the second time in the club’s history.

Danny Phillips crashed out in Heat 11, after Sheffield guest Richie Worrall lost control immediately in front of him and both smacked into the fence. Phillips suffered concussion, and also has suspected rib damage.

That reduced Scorpions to just five men, including guests Rory Schlein and Dimitri Berge, but all five of those cylinders fired magnificently.

Both guests were in stellar form, dropping just a single point between in ten outings, with Schlein completing a brilliant paid maximum with a charge from third to first in Heat 15.

Allen (12), Manzares (10+1) and Auty (9+2) were all also all paid for double-figures, and the return to form of Manzares – who has really been in the wars in the last month with two nasty accidents – was a delight to watch.

Scorpions reeled off six 5-1s in the first 11 races, before Allen clinched their place in the next round by winning a battle with Broc Nicol, a very impressive first-time visitor, in Heat 14.

The Knockout Cup has been a cursed competition for Scorpions in the past, and last night sealed their first aggregate victory in the competition since 2009, when Scorpions reached the semi-finals, after despatching Newcastle and Redcar.

Scorpions twice won the Knockout Cup in 2006 and 2007, when they were competing at Conference League (third-tier) level.

Speaking post-meeting, Gino Manzares said: “I’ve got my engine back from a long service and it makes such a big difference. I can’t thank the club enough for getting behind me and getting it sorted. I just needed to get my equipment back-on-track and I’m back scoring points.

“I feel the pressure is off my shoulders now and I can get back to enjoying my speedway. I’ve had a lot of support from the club, both financially and emotionally. I appreciate it and I want to get the job right for them.

“By the end of the four rides on the trot at the end, I was pretty done, but I was just happy to have a good meeting. I don’t mind being put into races such as Heat 13. I spent my second year at Ipswich riding at No 3 and I can ride anywhere.

“We’re through to the next round and more meetings is always a good thing. I had a horrible night at Sheffield in the first leg, but the whole team dug deep and we got the job done today.”

SCUNTHORPE 56: Rory Schlein 14+1, Jake Allen 12, Dimitri Berge 11+3, Gino Manzares 10+1, Josh Auty 9+2, Danny Phillips 0, Jason Garrity r/r.
SHEFFIELD 34: Broc Nicol 11, Lasse Bjerre 7+2, Ty Proctor 7, Todd Kurtz 4, James Shanes 3, Georgie Wood 1, Richie Worrall 1.