Superb win at Newcastle for Scorpions
NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 42 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 46 (CHAMPIONSHIP)
HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions completed their Championship fixtures with a cracking 46-42 victory at Newcastle last night (Sunday).
It is the first time that Scorpions have won at Brough Park in ten years, since a 47-46 victory at the track on October 12, 2008.
The result moves Scorpions up one place to eighth in the table, at the expense of the Diamonds. If Newcastle fail to beat Workington next Sunday, then Scorpions’ final finishing position will be eighth – which would have been disappointing at the start of the season, but at least Scorpions have finished well clear of the bottom despite a heavily injury-hit campaign.
Scorpions hit Diamonds hard in the early stages, with two early 5-1s and led 37-22 after 10 races, and had won the meeting with two races to spare. Newcastle then made the scoreline respectable with two maximums in the final two races.
Jason Garrity was unbeaten by an opposing rider until Heat 15, while Steve Worrall took three race wins on his return to his old track, and all seven Scorpions contributed, in a team effort.
Stefan Nielsen took a couple of falls on his return from injury, but is fine.
Team manager Dave Peet said: “It was nice to finish our league meetings on a high.
“Jason Garrity really likes the track – it holds no fears for him and that’s the second time he’s scored a hatful of points for us at Newcastle this season.
“But the whole team chipped in, from the moment that Steve Worrall and Stefan Nielsen went out and got a 5-1 for us in Heat 1.
“Stefan was fine after his couple of falls later on, while Gino Manzares again looks sharper and he really seems to be building his confidence back up.
“I did feel a bit for Newcastle. They were already using rider replacement and then Matej Kus crashed out. We’ve been in that situation a few times this season and it stretches resources to the limit.
“We’re not entirely sure when we’ll be back in action in the two cup competitions, since we’re waiting on several other teams. But, once we do ride, I feel we’ll be ready for them.”
NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 42
1. Ludvig Lindgren 1 F F (1)
2. Ashley Morris R/R
3. Matej Kus FN (0)
4. Tero Aarnio 1 2 FX 2 3 2* (10+1)
5. Stuart Robson 3 3 2 2* 2 3 (15+1)
6. Carl Wilkinson R 3 0 F 0 0 2 (5)
7. Matthew Wethers FX 0 3 2 3 1* 2* (11+2)
HENDERSON INSURANCE SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 46
1. Steve Worrall 3 3 R 3 0 (9)
2. Stefan Nielsen 2* 1 FX F (3+1)
3. Jason Garrity 2* 3 3 3 1 (12+1)
4. Jake Allen 3 1 1 R (5)
5. Josh Auty 2 2 3 1 (8)
6. Danny Philips 1* 1* 1 0 (3+2)
7. Gino Manzares 2 1* 2 1 (6+1)
1: Worrall, Nielsen, Lindgren, Wilkinson (ret), 64.5 (1-5) (1-5).
2: (Re-run twice) Wilkinson, Manzares, Philips, Wethers (fell, excluded), 64.4 (3-3) (4-8).
3: (Re-run) Allen, Garrity, Aarnio, Wilkinson, Kus (fell, unable to contest re-run), 63.5 (1-5) (5-13).
4: Robson, Auty, Manzares, Wethers, 65.4 (3-3) (8-16).
5: Worrall, Aarnio, Nielsen, Wilkinson (fell), 64.9 (2-4) (10-20).
6: Robson, Auty, Philips, Lindgren (fell), 64.8 (3-3) (13-23).
7: Garrity, Robson, Allen, Wilkinson, 64.8 (2-4) (15-27).
8: (Re-run twice), Wethers, Manzares, Nielsen (fell, excluded), Aarnio (fell, excluded), 65.6 (3-2) (18-29).
9: Auty, Aarnio, Philips, Wilkinson (fell, remounted), 66.1 (2-4) (20-31).
10: Garrity, Wethers, Allen, Lindgren (fell), 65.0 (2-4) (22-37).
11: Wethers, Robson, Nielsen (fell), Worrall (ret), 66.0 (5-0) (27-37).
12: Garrity, Wilkinson, Wethers, Philips, 65.0 (3-3) (30-40).
13: Worrall, Robson, Auty (three riders only), 64.9 (2-4) (32-44).
14: Aarnio, Wethers, Manzares, Allen (ret), 66.5 (5-1) (37-45).
15: Robson, Aarnio, Garrity, Worrall (5-1) (42-46).
