Scunthorpe V Plymouth (pl) - Sunday, September 2nd (5pm)

[lucifer sam]

IMPORTANT WEEKEND AHEAD FOR SCORPIONS

 

HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions face old rivals Plymouth Devils at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday evening (5pm), as they aim to make it nine wins from nine home meetings in the 2012 Premier League.

 

Once again, it’s a double feast of action, as the Scorpions match is followed by a Scunthorpe Saints v Stoke Potters National League match.

 

The home double header on Sunday is not the only action this weekend, as the Scorpions also travel up to Scotland on Friday night for a tricky looking trip to Edinburgh (7pm). That meeting is also a double-header, with an Edinburgh v Redcar clash following in the second half.

 

The Monarchs have a perfect home record in the Premier league so far – not only have their won all six home matches at Armadale, but they have won them all by 7 points or more to claim the extra third league point in each case. However, Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey feels that Fortress Armadale is not completely impenetrable.

 

Godfrey said: “It’s our last away match of the regular season and it’s one we’ve got to be targeting as a potential win.

 

“We’re talking Kevin Wolbert as a guest, who is a former Edinburgh rider; Ashley Birks flies around there; and I would say it’s a Thomas Jorgensen kind of track, because it’s a bit of a ‘turning track’. So we could be all right up there.

 

“Our record at Edinburgh is nowhere as impressive as we’d like it to be, but with the Monarchs losing Craig Cook to injury recently, maybe now’s our chance to improve it a little bit!”

 

The Scorpions will be without Nick Morris at Edinburgh. The 18-year-old is representing Australia in the World Under-21 Team Cup Final in Poland on Saturday, and will be riding in the practice on Friday.

 

Some league points from the Edinburgh trip would certainly help the Scorpions in their quest to finish high up in the Premier League before the commencement of the play-offs at the end of September.

 

Looking at the current Premier League table, fifth-placed Scorpions are sitting pretty to qualify for the play-offs. They currently have 34 points, just five points short of league leaders Somerset, who were defeated 40-50 at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Bank Holiday Monday. The sixth-place team, Ipswich, have 25 points, some 9 points short of the Scorpions’ current total.

 

However, team manager Richard Hollingsworth is keen for the team not to rest of their laurels and push as high up the table as possible, before the commencement of the play-offs.

 

In the play-offs, the top six teams from the Premier League table are separated into two mini-groups of three, with the winners of each mini-league qualifying for the final. The teams finishing first and second in the regular table pick, in turn, their opponents for the play-offs i.e. the top team picks one team from those placed third to sixth, then the second placed team picks one opponent, then the top team picks again from the two teams still to be allocated, and finally the second placed team ends up with whoever is left.

 

Hollingsworth said: “Of course, we’d love to finish first or second. Had we not suffered David Howe’s injury, I’m sure we could have achieved that. We still can, if all the results go our way.

 

“But, at the moment, we just have to take it one meeting at a time, and maximise the number of league points that we score from each meeting.

 

“I see the home match against Plymouth on Sunday as a meeting where we should be looking to score all three league points. Not that it’s going to be easy; the Devils have two of the best riders in the entire league in the shape of Ben Barker and Ryan Fisher.

 

“But we also have a pretty formidable spearhead, led by Josh Auty, who is riding on the crest of a wave after last weekend.

 

“Josh was inspired after being reserve at the British Grand Prix at Cardiff, and his maximum against Somerset was peerless; he was a class apart, and with Jason Doyle in the opposition ranks, that’s no mean feat. When he made the gate or not, it didn’t matter. He calmly worked his way through to the front. It was perhaps the most complete performance we’ve seen from Josh around the Eddie Wright Raceway since he started here as a 15-year-old in late 2005.”

 

Sunday sees a new riding order for the Scorpions.

 

Hollingsworth explains: “With the issue of the September Green Sheet averages, Josh will be moving to the No 1 spot on Sunday, but judging by the performance against the Rebels, he will take that in his stride.

 

“Josh replacing David Howe at No 1 in our averages has prompted a reshuffle in the team. On Sunday, we will use rider replacement for David at No 2, while Thomas Jorgensen moves to No 3 and Nick Morris to No 5. Thomas put in a superb performance at Somerset in the pairs, and we have no qualms about placing him in a heat leader position. Likewise we have no doubts that Nick will cope will riding in the tough No 5 position vacated by Josh.

 

“With Ash (Birks), Michael (Palm Toft) and Gary (Irving) also capable of banging in the points, we are pretty solid at the Eddie Wright Raceway. But we can’t let our guard down at any point, because this is a highly competitive league, and any complacency will be punished”, Hollingsworth stressed.

 

A preview of the following Saints v Stoke National League match will follow tomorrow.

 

Sunday’s adult admission price for the double-header is £16. It’s just £2 more than a single Premier League meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway, for 15 extra heats of action.

 

Premier/National League Double Header Admission Prices:

Adult: £16.00

Student/OAP: £14.00

Child (10 - 16): £5.00

Child (0 - 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)

Family Ticket £37 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-16)

Match Programme: £1.00

 

Teams for Sunday (English unless stated):

 

Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Auty, 2. David Howe R/R, 3. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. Nick Morris (Australia), 6. Michael Palm Toft (Denmark), 7. Gary Irving.

 

Plymouth Devils: 1. Ben Barker, 2. Todd Kurtz (Australia), 3. Cory Gathercole (Australia), 4. James Holder (Australia), 5. Ryan Fisher (United States), 6. Jake Anderson (Australia), 7. Ben Reade.

 

Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints: 1. Byron Bekker (guest), 2. Tommy Fenwick (Scotland), 3. Tom Young (Wales), 4. Max Clegg, 5. Gary Irving. 6. Danny Phillips, 7. Oliver Greenwood.

 

Stoke Potters: 1. Ashley Birks, 2. Richard Andrews, 3. Tony Atkin (Wales), 4. Ben Reade, 5. James Cockle, 6. Liam Rumsey, 7. Liam Carr.

 

 

Scorpions Info

 

Josh Auty has now scored over 350 Points in the Premier League for the club (351 to date).

Josh Auty's maximum v Somerset now takes him level at the top of the list of all-time maximums scored for the

club (21). Level with Nicky Allott and Tai Woffinden.

 

Plymouth Devils at EWR

 

Ave Ave Best

Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance

Jake Anderson PL 3 15 19 6 5.07 6.67 11 + 1 from 7 rides (2011)

Ben Barker PL 3 14 30 2 8.57 9.14 15 from 5 rides (2008)

Ryan Fisher PL 4 19 40 2 8.42 8.84 13 + 1 from 5 rides (2008)

Cory Gathercole PL 6 28 37 2 5.29 5.57 12 from 6 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2010))

James Holder PL 7 27 26 4 3.85 4.44 5 + 2 from 5 rides (2009)

Todd Kurtz PL 4 15 10 4 2.67 3.73 3 + 1 from 4 rides (2011/2012)

Ben Reade DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR

 

Other Notes

 

Jake Anderson

Rode for Birmingham, Somerset and Glasgow at Premier League level in 2010.

 

Ben Barker

Has ridden in 2 Speedway World Cup Events.

Member of Oxford's Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2005.

Member of Coventry's Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2010.

Member of Stoke's Conference League Four Team Championship Winning Team in 2006.

Member of Coventry's Craven Shield Winning Team in 2008.

Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Birmingham for the 2012 Elite League Season.

 

Ryan Fisher

Member of Edinburgh's Premier League Championship Winning Teams in 2008 and 2010.

Member of Edinburgh's Premier League Play-Off Winning Teams in 2008 and 2009.

Member of Edinburgh's Premier Trophy Winning Team in 2008.

 

Cory Gathercole

2007 Western Australia and Victoria State Champion.

2007 New South Wales Under-21 State Champion.

Member of Isle of Wight's Premier League Fours Winning Team in 2007.

 

James Holder

Made his Premier League debut in 2008 when riding for the Isle of Wight.

 

Todd Kurtz

Made his Premier League debut in 2010 when riding for Newport.

Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Poole for the 2012 Elite League Season.

 

Plymouth Devils' 2012 Results

 

23 March 2012 LC H D Plymouth 45 Rye House 45

14 April 2012 LC H L Plymouth 39 Somerset 51

20 April 2012 LC H W Plymouth 47 Leicester 43

05 May 2012 LC A L Plymouth 37 Rye House 56

11 May 2012 LC A L Plymouth 44 Somerset 52

12 May 2012 PL H L Plymouth 43 Somerset 47

17 May 2012 LC A L Plymouth 46 Ipswich 47

18 May 2012 KOC H W Plymouth 52 Glasgow 38

20 May 2012 LC A L Plymouth 46 Leicester 47

25 May 2012 PL H W Plymouth 47 Scunthorpe 43

27 May 2012 KOC A L Plymouth 36 Glasgow 54 (On Agg:- L - 88-92)

01 June 2012 PL H L Plymouth 42 Redcar 48

08 June 2012 PL H W Plymouth 51 Leicester 39

22 June 2012 PL H W Plymouth 55 Sheffield 38

23 June 2012 PL A L Plymouth 43 Leicester 53

28 June 2012 PL A L Plymouth 36 Redcar 59

29 June 2012 LC H L Plymouth 41 Ipswich 51

08 July 2012 PL A L Plymouth 41 Glasgow 49

20 July 2012 PL H W Plymouth 52 Rye House 41

27 July 2012 PL A L Plymouth 41 Edinburgh 55

28 July 2012 PL H W Plymouth 57 Edinburgh 36

03 August 2012 PL H W Plymouth 47 Ipswich 43

09 August 2012 PL A L Plymouth 40 Ipswich 53

10 August 2012 PL H D Plymouth 45 Workington 45

18 August 2012 PL A L Plymouth 41 Rye House 52

22 August 2012 PL A L Plymouth 39 Berwick 56

23 August 2012 PL A L Plymouth 43 Sheffield 50

 

Plymouth Devils' PL Results at EWR

 

19 August 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 56 Plymouth 37

 

(stats courtesy of John Eyre)

[lucifer sam]

Scorps up to second after the win at Edinburgh last night.

 

Let's keep it up by taking all the points off the Devils tomorrow.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited September 1, 2012 by lucifer sam

[crazysue]

Is there anyone going to this meeting who would be able to text updates to the updates site? If so, could you please either leave a message here or send me an email or pm.

 

Thanks

[Clint]

Speedway Updates can be found Here

[lucifer sam]

Well done to Scorps on another three points.

 

Good team performance, but special mention to Michael Palm Toft on passing Ryan Fisher and Ben Barker to win Heat 15.

 

Rod Godfrey on top form on the mic today.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited September 2, 2012 by lucifer sam

[Sol Viking]

Another great performance by the Scorpions this evening. As Rob said young Tofty was superb from reserve scoring 13 n 2 and grows in confidence every meeting. Tommy Jorgensen once again flying with 13 n 1. The lads just get better every meeting and without doubt have a real chance of the title this year. It's a pleasure watching them every week.

[EC Rides Again]

Enjoyable double header at the EWR today, and all completed in well under three hours.

 

Highlights:

 

Auty/Barker battle was pure entertainment.

 

Aspegeren was a very good guest for Scunthorpe ( for once) and never stopped trying.

 

Palm Toft heading Barker in Heat 15 was a great ride.

 

Birks and Irving going at it hammer and tongs just an hour after being on the same side. Rob must have had kittens watching the two young Scorpions throwing the bikes at each other in the NL match !

 

Yet another droll Rob Godfrey Show on the microphone. .

 

And last but not least Tommy Fenwick taking two wins in great style. "Rock on Tommy !"

Edited September 3, 2012 by EC Rides Again

[Halifaxtiger]

_{Usual good quality Scunny meeting with a top class race in heat 13, Auty slipping between the team riding Barker-Fisher pairing, only to lose out on the line to Barker's fantastic last bend outside charge. Great stuff.}

 

_{One thing : if Rob Godfrey and his crew can prepare a surface of that quality less than 24 hours after a stock car meeting on the same track, I fail to appreciate why everyone else can't as well.}

[EC Rides Again]

_{Usual good quality Scunny meeting with a top class race in heat 13, Auty slipping between the team riding Barker-Fisher pairing, only to lose out on the line to Barker's fantastic last bend outside charge. Great stuff.}

 

_{One thing : if Rob Godfrey and his crew can prepare a surface of that quality less than 24 hours after a stock car meeting on the same track, I fail to appreciate why everyone else can't as well.}

 

Rob and all the helpers did a great job preparing the track for yesterday, but I think that the fact that they can start working straight after the Stock Cars finished does help the cause. Some track staff at other stadiums seem to have limited access to their track, in terms of time, in order to work on it.

 

But I agree that "where there's a will there's a way" !

Edited September 3, 2012 by EC Rides Again

[duffyscouse]

ENtertainment is usually a guarantee at the EWR - let's hope the lads get the silverware they deserve to go with the endeavours of many

[June]

We had a feast of fantastic racing yesterday at the EWR. A double header and 2 wins. Great to see so many stop to watch the youngsters. I'm sure they weren't disappointed. Entertainment of the highest quality from the Scorpion and Saints. Well done to both teams!

[June01]

Could someone who was at this meeting confirm the result of heat 3 please? Again, both teams' websites differ.

[June]

I was at this meeting and my prog reads.; Ht 3. 1. Jorgensen, 2. Birks, 3.Gathercole.4. Reade. hope this helps!

[June01]

You're a star. Thank you!