Slow start costs Scorpions

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 43 EDINBURGH MONARCHS 48 (PREMIER LEAGUE)

FLUIDAIR POWER Scunthorpe Scorpions paid the price for a slow start to their Premier League meeting with the Edinburgh Monarchs at the Eddie Wright Raceway yesterday afternoon (Bank Holiday Monday). The Monarchs eventually emerged as 48-43 victors, to make it 10 wins out of 10 this season.

The Scorpions made a dreadful start to the meeting, conceding 5-1s in both the opening two races. The Monarchs twice led by 10 points, at 14-4 and 20-10.

Scorpions’ team manager Dave Peet was forced to nominate Ryan Douglas as a tactical ride as early as Heat 6. Team-mate David Howe won the race with Edinburgh’s Sam Masters second and a battling Douglas only in third, as the Scorpions posted an unusual 5-2 score-line.

Josh Auty won his second successive race in Heat 7 with Matt Williamson holding back Monarchs’ skipper Derek Sneddon to take an excellent third place. A 5-1 from Thomas Jorgensen and Howe in Heat 8; followed a 4-2 from Douglas and Ashley Birks in Heat 9 that placed the Scorpions one point in front.

The scores then yo-yoed for several races, with Edinburgh edging in front by a point in Heat 11, the Scorpions likewise after Heat 12, and the Monarchs once more taking the lead with a 4-2 in Heat 13, a race that was allowed to continue, despite Craig Cook seemingly getting a jump start.

Heat 14 was a crunch race. Birks, with just one point previously to his name, roared past Sneddon to win the race, while Steve Worrall won the battle for third place with Jorgensen, to leave the Monarchs one point in front, with the unbeaten Cook out in Heat 15.

Both Auty and Douglas went hell for leather to try to catch Cook in the final race, but both made mistakes, as Cook and Max Fricke ended up with a 5-1 to leave the Monarchs with a five-point margin of victory.

Ryan Douglas top scored in his first meeting at home since moving up from reserve with 12 points, while Josh Auty contributed 11.

Scorpions’ team manager Dave Peet said: “The first two heats were dreadfully disappointing; we can’t afford to start a meeting like that.

“We showed a bit of spirit to come back into it, but it wasn’t quite enough.

“When it came to the tactical ride, I put the helmet colour on the wrong jockey. But at that point, David had a third while Ryan had two seconds and was looking quick. As it turned out, David won the race and Ryan was struggling for speed in that race. That’s the way it goes sometimes.

“Neither guests nor rider replacement have worked to cover Anders Mellgren, and it will really help having Nicolai (Klindt) come in. He made a big difference when he came in last season and hopefully this season will be the same. It is far better to have seven of our own riders.”

SCUNTHORPE 43: Ryan Douglas 12, Josh Auty 11, David Howe 8+1, Thomas Jorgensen 7+1, Ashley Birks 4, Matt Williamson, Anders Mellgren R/R.
EDINBURGH 48: Craig Cook 15, Max Fricke 10+1, Steve Worrall 7+1, Derek Sneddon 5, Sam Masters 5, Justin Sedgmen 4+1, Aaron Fox 2+1.

PHOTO: Josh Auty starts the Scunthorpe comeback by winning Heat 4.