Scorpions snatch it at the death!

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 46 GLASGOW TIGERS 44 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions took a dramatic final bend 46-44 victory over Glasgow Tigers at the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday (Sunday), to leap four places up the Championship table to sixth place.

In a hard-fought contest in front of a bumper crowd, Scorpions took the lead in the opening race, courtesy of a 4-2 from Steve Worrall and lively guest Josh Pickering, and had extended that lead to six points after eight races, with Pickering adding two victories and Josh Auty storming from last to first in brilliant fashion in Heat 4.

Glasgow hit back with a 5-1 from tactical substitute Craig Cook and Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris in Heat 9, but Jason Garrity and Gino Manzares took a fine 5-1 in Heat 12 after both passing early leader Jack Thomas.

The visitors took another 5-1 from the Cook / Harris partnership in Heat 13 to move back within two points, and a four-way battle in Heat 14 saw Paul Starke come through to win the race ahead of Gino Manzares and Jake Allen, as the race was shared 3-3.

With Scorpions holding just a two-point lead, the picture looked rosy for Tigers early in the decisive Heat 15, as Harris cut to the inside to join Cook at the front. However, while Grand Prix star Cook pulled away for a fourth successive victory, Harris came under massive pressure on either side from Auty and Garrity, and Garrity found a way inside into second place with two laps remaining.

Auty built up his speed, and charged around the outside on the final two bends, with Garrity assisting by clamping down Harris. Harris simply ran out of room in his attempt to salvage the situation, and he fell, leaving Scunthorpe with a match-winning 3-3.

One key to Scorpions’ success was at reserve. Manzares scored 5+2 after two fine races late in the meeting, while Phillips looked better than his two points suggested, with only a fall in Heat 8 stopped him from adding to that tally.

Jason Garrity, featuring in his first meeting since returning from a thumb injury, said: “It was really tight, but we got it in the end.

“In that last race, we knew we just needed a 3-3 to win. So once Cookie (Craig Cook) got out in front, we just let him go. I was looking out for Josh the whole time and he was looking for me, because we knew we both had to get in front of Chris Harris.

“It was my first meeting back, and I really enjoyed it and got (paid) ten points. The thumb is a bit sore, but I’m a fighter. I felt comfortable on the bike, so it’s just a case of getting out there to score the points.”

SCUNTHORPE 46: Josh Auty 11, Jason Garrity 8+2, Josh Pickering 8, Steve Worrall 7, Gino Manzares 5+2, Jake Allen 5+1, Danny Phillips 2.

GLASGOW 44: Craig Cook 14, Chris Harris 8+2, Paul Starke 6+1, Claus Vissing 6, Nathan Greaves 4+1, James Sarjeant 3+1, Jack Thomas 3.

* DAN THOMPSON (500cc) and Nathan Ablitt (250cc) won their classes in the following British Youth Championship, which completed the day’s action. Thompson stopped the run of Leon Flint, winner of the opening three rounds, after taking a dramatic photo-finish in the final.

* HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions are back in action at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (7.30pm), when they entertain local rivals Sheffield Tigers in further Championship action.

* SCORPIONS’ pair Josh Auty and Jake Allen were out of luck in the Championship Pairs at Somerset last Friday. The meeting was won by Sheffield’s Kyle Howarth and Charles Wright, with Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey standing in as Tigers’ team-manager!

PHOTO: Action from the decisive Heat 15.