Disappointing night at Berwick

BERWICK BANDITS 54 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 36 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

A DISATROUS start to the meeting cost Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions at Berwick on Saturday night, as they went down to a 36-54 defeat.

Scunthorpe conceded three 5-1s and then a 4-2, as Berwick raced into an early 19-5 lead, before Scorpions recovered with a 5-1 of their own from Steve Worrall and Jake Allen in Heat 5.

Berwick had the meeting in the bag with three races to spare, despite Scorpions providing 7 of the 15 heat-winners. Tellingly, Scorpions had 13 last places, while they scored one point from the reserve berths for the second successive meeting.

Danny Phillips crashed out of the meeting in Heat 9, with the travelling support mystified by his exclusion, since he was left with nowhere to go. Fortunately, the youngster will be fine, despite a twinge to an old back injury.

Most of the excitement on the night was provided by Josh Auty, including a brilliant third to first in the re-run Heat 9, when the Yorkshireman burst past David Howe and Jye Etheridge.

Josh Auty (13), Jake Allen (12+1) and Steve Worrall (7) scored all but four of Scorpions’ total.

Guest Nico Covatti was a major disappointment scoring just 3 points, popping out to win his final race in Heat 12, after failing to score before that.

Speaking post-match, Jake Allen said: “The top end of the team did well tonight, but obviously the reserves were struggling a bit and that makes it tough.

“We’ve just got to dig deep. Once we’ve got our full team back, we’ll be alright.

“It’s a team sport, and once we’ve got the seven of us, we should be OK. Then, if one of us is having a bad night, then the rest can chip in and we can still win.

“It is nice to have Steve Worrall back. He’s someone who can give advice, and it’s good to have a familiar face, rather having a new guy every week.

“Steve is still catching up after missing half the season through injury. But I’m confident that once he has his race rhythm back he’ll be scoring the big points, like we all know he can.

“I’ve had pretty good two meetings this weekend, at Peterborough last night and here at Berwick. I bought a new engine the other week and I’m enjoying riding that, and I hope I can keep it going.”

BERWICK 54: Aaron Summers 11+2, Dany Gappmaier 8+3, Theo Pijper 8+1, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 8+1, Jye Etheridge 7, David Howe 6+2, Kevin Doolan 6.
SCUNTHORPE 36: Josh Auty 13, Jake Allen 12+1, Steve Worrall 7, Nico Covatti 3, Danny Phillips 1, Gino Manzares 0, Stefan Nielsen r/r