Scunthorpe Scorpions V Somerset Rebels (premier League) - Monday, May 27th (3pm) Followed By Scunthorpe Saints V Milton Keynes Knights (nl Challenge)

[lucifer sam]

BUSY WEEK FOR SCORPIONS

 

DEFENDING PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions are involved in no fewer than four league fixtures within the next week – including a mouth-watering clash against the Somerset Rebels at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

 

The Scorpions also face tough away trips to Edinburgh (tonight – Friday), Newcastle (Sunday) and Somerset (Wednesday).

 

There are 30 heats of action on Monday, with the Scunthorpe Saints entertaining the Milton Keynes Knights in a National League challenge match in the second half.

 

Scunthorpe currently boast the only unbeaten record in the 2013 Premier League, although it is a somewhat unusual record – with one win and three draws! The Scorpions’ only win was a 49-45 home win over Edinburgh, while there have been home draws against Ipswich and Workington, and an away draw at Glasgow.

 

Promoter Rob Godfrey has realistic expectations of the forthcoming week’s meetings.

 

He said: “I’ve been in this game long enough to realise the away meetings are Edinburgh, Newcastle and Somerset are perhaps our toughest three matches of the season. We do need to pick up some away wins at some point, but it’s unlikely to be from these three meetings.

 

“Edinburgh are a team I really fancy to do well this year, Newcastle is our bogey track, and Somerset are also strong. It would be a miracle if we were to win any of these meetings.

 

“I’ll treat any points we pick up from these meetings as a bonus. That’s not to say we won’t go into each meeting with the mindset to win it.

 

“Miracles do happen in speedway, such as when we picked up a point at Edinburgh last season in a play-off match without any of our top four. We also won at Armadale earlier in the season, when we thumped them on a wet track. So we’ll win looking for another miracle or two.

 

“But what I really want is for us to score the maximum three points from our home meeting against Somerset on Monday.

 

“We have yet to score all three points from a home match. It’s what we need to start doing.

 

“Our best move this season has been to bring in Lewis Blackbird at reserve – he’s only had a couple of meetings so far for us, but already we can see the difference.

 

“We’ve also been working with Ryan Douglas to get his machinery right. I’m confident that we’ll see a massive improvement in Ryan sometime very soon. He has the ability.

 

“If we can get Ryan to click, then we’ll have one of the best reserve pairings in the league to back up a strong top five.”

 

The visit of the Somerset Rebels next Monday is a re-match between the two teams who contested the 2012 Premier League play-off final, which the Scorpions won in dramatic fashion by a single point.

 

One Scorpion from that night, Nick Morris, now rides for Somerset. The Australian is due to return from injury next Monday, and his clashes against Josh Auty and David Howe will be eagerly anticipated. Somerset also have Jason Doyle (another Australian), one of the best riders in the Premier League, in their ranks.

 

The Scorpions will have to race all four meetings in the next week without Dane Thomas Jørgensen, who broke his shoulder in three places in a crash in Denmark. ‘Tommy The Gun’ has also been ruled out of the Premier League Pairs at Somerset a week on Friday, in which the Scorpions will be represented by Josh Auty and David Howe.

 

Godfrey said: “Thomas is due to go back to see the specialist next week.

 

“Thomas is going to look into the possibility of laser treatment to speed up his return.

 

“He’s remaining positive about things. Last season, when Thomas hurt his shoulder, I knew he wasn’t coming back any time soon, because he wasn’t confident about a return. This is different. He’s remaining optimistic about things.

 

“After he goes to see the specialist, we’ll have a better idea of exactly how long he will be out for.

 

“It’s a shame that Thomas is in the wars again this season. Given a trouble-free run, I’m sure he would have been pushing for the No 1 spot by now – there were signs at the start of the season that was starting to happen.”

 

In Jørgensen’s absence, the Scorpions will operate rider replacement at No 2. He is third in the club’s averages, so with the exception of Josh Auty, all the riders can take one of his rides.

 

Scunthorpe had another injury scare when David Howe pulled out of his own testimonial last Sunday with a hand injury. Howe went for X-rays the following day, which revealed no break, and he is fit to resume racing for the Scorpions this week.

 

Monday’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.

 

The circuit rightfully won the award last season for being the best racetrack in the Premier League, so a full and exciting day of racing is ahead.

 

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 Bank Holiday Monday (English unless stated):

 

Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Auty, 2. R/R for Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 3. Michael Palm Toft (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. David Howe, 6. Ryan Douglas (Australia), 7. Lewis Blackbird.

 

Somerset Rebels: 1. Jason Doyle (Australia), 2. Kyle Newman, 3. Nick Morris (Australia) or R/R, 4. Alex Davies (Australia), 5. Josh Grajczonek (Australia), 6. Stefan Nielsen, 7. Tom Perry.

 

Scunthorpe Saints: 1. Max Clegg, 2. Hayden Sims, 3. Brendan Johnson, 4. Liam Carr, 5. Lee Geary, 6. Danny Phillips, 7. David Holt

 

Milton Keynes Knights: 1. Tamas Sike, 2. Ethan Ballentyne, 3. Shane Waldron, 4. Dan Winchester, 5. Kyle Ballentyne, 6. Ryan Terry-Daley, 7. Arron Mogridge

 

Somerset Rebels at EWR

 

Ave Ave Best

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

Alex Davies PL 5 22 32 7 5.82 7.09 11 + 1 from 7 rides (2011)

Jason Doyle PL 5 25 48 1 7.68 7.84 12 from 5 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2011))

Josh Grajczonek PL 8 27 47 1 6.96 7.11 11 from 5 rides (2009)

Nick Morris PL 17 85 168 11 7.91 8.42 15 from 6 rides (2012)

Kyle Newman PL 3 13 7 2 2.15 2.77 5 + 2 from 6 rides (2012)

Stefan Nielsen PL 2 6 4 1 2.67 3.33 4 + 1 from 4 rides (2012)

Tom Perry PL 1 5 3 2 2.40 4.00 3 + 2 from 5 rides (2012)

 

Other Notes

 

Alex Davies

Member of Somerset's League Cup Winning Team in 2012.

 

Jason Doyle

Member of Somerset's Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2008.

Member of Poole's Elite League KO Cup Winning Team in 2010.

Member of Newport's Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.

Member of Poole's Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2011.

Member of Swindon's Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2012.

A Premier League Cup Winner with Somerset in 2012.

Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Birmingham for the 2013 Elite League season.

 

Josh Grajczonek

Twice Queensland State Champion in 2009 and 2011.

A Premier League Championship Winner with Glasgow in 2011.

 

Nick Morris

Twice Queensland Under-16 Champion in 2008/09 and 2009/10.

New South Wales Under-16 Champion in 2009/10.

Member of Buxton's National League Championship Winning Team in 2010.

Member of Glasgow's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2011.

Member of Swindon's Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2012.

Member of Scunthorpe's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2012.

Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Swindon for the 2013 Elite League season.

 

Kyle Newman

Winner of Queensland State Under-21 Championships in 2011.

Member of Weymouth's Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2008.

Member of Bournemouth's National League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2009.

Member of Newcastle's Premier Shield Winning Team in 2011.

Member of Somerset's League Cup Winning Team in 2012.

 

Stefan Nielsen

2012 British Under-19 Champion.

Former Scunthorpe Saint who was a member of the 2011 National League Winning Team in 2011.

Member of Mildenhall's NL Championship, Fours, KO Cup and National Trophy Winning Team in 2012.

Will also ride in 2013 for Mildenhall in the National League.

 

Tom Perry

Member of Dudley's National League Shield Winning Team in 2011.

A Premier League Cup Winner with Somerset in 2012.

Will also ride in 2013 for Isle of Wight in the National League.

 

Somerset Rebels' Results at EWR

 

05 May 2008 PL L Scunthorpe 51 Somerset 39

13 April 2009 PT L Scunthorpe 53 Somerset 40

05 June 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 47 Somerset 43

03 May 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 56 Somerset 40

02 October 2010 YS L Scunthorpe 70 Somerset 20

25 April 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Somerset 41

04 September 2011 PL Ph 2 L Scunthorpe 49 Somerset 41

27 August 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 50 Somerset 40

29 October 2012 PL POF L Scunthorpe 48 Somerset 42

 

Somerset Rebels' 2013 Results

 

29 March 2013 CH H W Somerset 54 Plymouth 38

30 March 2013 CH A L Somerset 41 Plymouth 48

05 April 2013 LC H W Somerset 57 Ipswich 37

06 April 2013 LC A D Somerset 45 Rye House 45

11 April 2013 LC A L Somerset 44 Ipswich 51

12 April 2013 LC H W Somerset 54 Rye House 42

19 April 2013 LC H W Somerset 48 Plymouth 42

20 April 2013 LC A L Somerset 41 Plymouth 48

03 May 2013 PL H W Somerset 62 Leicester 32

16 May 2013 PL A L Somerset 43 Ipswich 50

 

(stats courtesy of John Eyre)

 

 

 

Edited May 24, 2013 by lucifer sam

[Fozzie4388]

Should be a cracker this. Be strange visiting the EWR hoping the away team come away with Victory.

[Cliffeboy]

Good luck to the Rebels, especially Nick if he makes it. If our reserves can score any points we could be in with a shout for some points. Every away match so far for the Rebels we have lost by 7, how frustrating is that.

[Najjer]

Well after much umming and ahhing, I've decided to make the journey upto deepest darkest Scunthorpe. Been there a good few times in the past, and ranks up there for being one of the coldest places on the planet. I think the last time I was there was when we lost Travis McGowan to a broken wrist a few years back now.

 

What's the weather supposed to be like? Cracking news that Nick Morris is back, and with Jorgensen missing for Scunthorpe, we should have a pretty good crack at taking something away from this without doubt. Stefan needs a big performance at reserve to outscore the Scunthorpe pairing.

[oldtimer]

Weather forecast for Monday is wet and windy.

[Fozzie4388]

Not according to

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2638324?day=1

 

its not.

[Lewis]

Hoping for a comfortable Scunthorpe win but my head tells me this will be close, need Auty, Howe, Birks & MPT firing together or we will be in big trouble.

 

Initially thought this would be a hammering by the rebels but after tonights performance at Newcastle I am more optomistic... Scorpions to win by 4 pts.

[lucifer sam]

Oldtimer, the weather forecast for tomorrow looks fine. I fine you might be confusing it with the forecast for the west of the country, which isn't very good at all. But Sunny Scunny is towards the east coast and the weather is due to be fine.

 

All the best

Rob

[montie]

Xc weather showing a very nice afternoon

[lucifer sam]

Somerset have confirmed that Nick Morris is back. Should be a cracking afternoon of racing - it's usual price for the double-headers, i.e. just £16 for 30 heats.

 

All the best

Rob

[justathought]

A Somerset win...........nailed on

[crazysue]

Is there anyone going to this meeting (or both meetings), who would be able to text updates to the updates site? If so, can you please send me a private message including mobile number.

 

Thanks

[crazysue]

Still looking for a texter...anyone?

[oldtimer]

Oldtimer, the weather forecast for tomorrow looks fine. I fine you might be confusing it with the forecast for the west of the country, which isn't very good at all. But Sunny Scunny is towards the east coast and the weather is due to be fine.

 

All the best

Rob

 

You mean Scunny is not in the West Country???

 

Great performance by the Rebels, living up to their potential at last. Excellent return by Nick Morris from injury, and Stefan, WOW what's happened to him

[scunny1]

You mean Scunny is not in the West Country???

 

Great performance by the Rebels, living up to their potential at last. Excellent return by Nick Morris from injury, and Stefan, WOW what's happened to him

Great return by the ex Scunny boys, had my doubts on this one from the off. This year nobody apart from Ash is riding to their potential and we look also rans this season so far. Well done Rebels see you on Friday hopefully, but can't see our pair doing much.

[Lewis]

First of all congratulations to the rebels, they were in great form, with every single rider battling for every single point. Look like top 4 this year along with Newcastle, Edinburgh & Worky.

 

Now for Scunthorpe, I dont really know where too start! They were poor, very poor, seems like its the same every week but todays result has really hammered it home.

 

Auty, had 2 good wins today, was blocked off by Howe at every turn in his last ride. Overall is doing okay but is just not clicking for some reason, he should be up there with Doyle & Cook.

 

Howe; Looks a world beater one minute & then gets beat easily? A real conundrum. Should be scoring 10+ at home and is getting 7 from 6 rides?

 

Birks; RIding to his potential, nothing to say about Ashley either way.

 

Toft; Where is the Toft from last season? No power and when he does trap he ends up falling off, arguably cost us a a few points this season, he should be the man to stick a point or two on his average, at the moment is riding with confidence but poor bikes.

 

Blackbird; Riding better than the 2 points he got today.

 

Douglas; Had a good day today, is this where he pushes on? I really hope so because I was seriously thinking he should be binned as soon as he gets an average.

 

The season is just about screwed up already for the Scorps with no Morris, irving or Masters waiting in the wings to take a place. We pretty much blew it from the off after Irving retired with Bates & Douglas, a very poor reserve pairing coupled with the main body being inconsistent. We had Armstrong last year, Douglas this... Darcy Wards dont come about very often, I really hope we stop looking for them. Three teams struggling this year; Scunny, Glasgow & Sheffield - you will see a common denominator at reserve!

 

How to rescue this season? I dont know how to get Auty / Howe winning consitently and being feared at home but probably Toft needs a last throw of the dice with his engine tuning up. Give Douglas a few more rides & if he doesnt start reaching a 4 pt average, strengthen the team. To not win the title is normal for the defending champs after having to reduce the team average but to draw / lose at home once is bad, multiple times is unforgivable!

 

Rob looked & sounded so annoyed today, I really hope he sticks with it, gives them a kick up the backside and gets them firing again.

[Cliffeboy]

Well done Somerset, all round performance not just relying on Jason and Josh. Great to see Stef getting in the points at reserve. I fancied us on this one but not by that score, sweet revenge after losing agonizingly by one in the final last year, if only Doyle had been fit.

[whowasthatberntpersson]

Somerset were very good today. However a few observations from a neutral. The track was very hard to ride early on, it did get better as the meeting wore on and heat 13 was a classic but I know a few riders were complaining after the meeting. Secondly, and I have to say this, should the home team promoter be slating his riders on the PA system during the meeting? Should he be walking up to home riders at the start line? Should he be taking the mick out of fans questioning refereeing decisions? I thought it was a pretty decent meeting overall...and if MPT gets his end of 2012 form back and Ryan Douglas can pick up a little and show his obvious potential I think Scunthorpe will have a reasonable side...they caught all seven Rebels in form and I believe they could take anyone to the sword on their day.

[SB123]

Any updates on the nl challenge?

[eric i]

The only positive scunny can take from this meeting is Ryan Douglas looked better, did I hear he was on Lee Dicken's bike, I am beginning to think he might be good rider if he got some better equipment.