Scorpions miss out to league leaders

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 40 LEICESTER LIONS 49 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

HEB Scunthorpe Scorpions had to settle for second best behind league leaders Leicester Lions in an a highly entertaining meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night (Friday), with the visitors eventually coming out on top by 49-40.

Scorpions suffered from some bad luck and also had a couple of refereeing decisions go against them, but Lions had more riders firing and were worthy winners.

The meeting was incident-packed, starting with Scorpions’ skipper Jake Allen and Leicester guest Jason Garrity both crashing down after a clash in the first attempt to stage Heat 1, but happily all the riders got up from their various falls during the evening.

Scorpions edged in front in the opening two races, but Lions took a 5-1 from Heat 3 after a dubious exclusion for Stefan Nielsen for an opening bend incident, after he appeared to receive contact from Scott Nicholls. Nielsen is currently completely out of luck, and he had already suffered a very heavy first bend tumble in the first attempt to stage the race, again after being pushed out.

After eight races, Lions led by six points, and Scorpions brought in Allen as a tactical substitute in Heat 9. Ryan Douglas was quickest away, and then both Allen and Josh Auty charged under Douglas on the third bend. Douglas then appeared to lose control, making contact with Auty in the process, and the Australian thudded into the air fence. With Joe Lawlor not under power at the time of the stoppage, there was the possibility of a 5-0 to Scunthorpe, but the referee’s decision was an exclusion for Auty and Scorpions had to settle for a 3-2 after Allen headed home the previously unbeaten Douglas in the re-run.

Any hopes that Scorpions had virtually disappeared in Heat 11. They held a 5-1, only for race-leader Ryan Kinsley to suffer an engine failure, and then Garrity passed Ben Barker for a 4-2 for Leicester which moved them nine points clear.

The racing was certainly top notch all night. Ellis Perks was a highly impressive visitor and he won a cracking battle with Allen in Heat 10, while Allen was also involved in a humdinger in Heat 13, battling for second place with Garrity, and this time came out on top.

Auty won Heat 14 in exciting style after a battle with Nicholls, and then Heat 15 proved a fitting conclusion to proceedings, with all four riders abreast at one point, and both Allen and Auty battling past Perks to grab a 3-3.

Allen finished as Scorpions’ top scorer on 14 points, while Simon Lambert continued his excellent run of form with 12+1 from seven reserve riders. Auty picked up 8+1, despite an exclusion.

Douglas (14) and Perks (10+2) were the star turns for Leicester, while the productive partnership between Perks and Nicholls yielded two 5-1s and a 4-2.

Scorpions’ skipper Jake Allen said: “Leicester are top of the league for a reason – they’re a quality side and deserved the win.

“We have been missing Danny Ayres since he got injured – there’s no doubt he was always going to be a big miss, while a couple of our guys are going through a difficult spell at the moment, which is just speedway.

“I beat every one of their riders during the evening, but there were a couple of times when I wasn’t on quite on the right set-up and that’s all it takes for a rider to nip past around here. But I’m satisfied with my night.

“It was one of those nights for the team, but we’ll fight on in our remaining meetings.”

SCUNTHORPE 40: Jake Allen 14, Simon Lambert 12+1, Josh Auty 8+1, Ben Barker 3, Stefan Nielsen 2+1, Ryan Kinsley 1 Danny Ayres r/r.
LEICESTER 49: Ryan Douglas 14, Ellis Perks 10+2, Scott Nicholls 9, Ty Proctor 6, Jason Garrity 6, Connor Mountain 4, Joe Lawlor 0.

* HEB Scunthorpe Scorpions are back in action in further Championship action at second-placed Glasgow tonight (Saturday).

* JAKE ALLEN represents Scunthorpe in the Championship Riders’ Individual at Sheffield on Sunday (5pm). Speaking during the post-meeting press conference last night, the Australian star said: “I’ve beaten the 15 other riders at some stage of the season, so I know I’m capable. It’s just a case of putting some starts together and seeing how it goes.”

PHOTO: Jake Allen leads Heat 1 (pic by Ian Rispin).