Tenacious Tigers edged out

The MIDDLESBROUGH “Heat Floors” Tigers powered by “STS” battled hard but just missed out on a maiden away win as they fell 46-44 to the Scunthorpe Steelers. Tigers guest Cooper Rushen top scored with 14 for Middlesbrough whilst Luke Harrison struck a faultless 15 point maximum for the hosts. 

The Tigers started on the front foot as the impressive starlet, Cooper Rushen passed Nathan Ablitt to win, and with Tom Spencer 3rd, Middlesbrough had the lead in the embryonic stages. 

Heat two saw Kai Ward take the win, and with Middlesbrough guest Laylan Richardson in a confidence boosting 3rd, the Tigers had a four point lead. Heat three saw the Tigers hit a maximum 5-1 as Middlesbrough guest Jacob Clouting won and with guest Sam McGurk 2nd, the Tigers were in the driving seat.  

Heat four saw Harrison win after passing a fast starting Danny Phillips, and with Jamie Etherington 3rd for the hosts after Phillips suffered mechanical problems, the Steelers had their first heat advantage. 

Nevertheless, the Tigers re-established their eight point lead as Rushen won again, and with Spencer 3rd, the Tigers had the upper hand. However, the Steelers bounced back with their first 5-1 as Ablitt won, and with Luke Harris second, the gap was only four points.

After Harrison won again for the hosts in a shared heat seven, Middlesbrough extended their lead to six points as the unflappable Rushen took another chequered flag, and with the ever improving Kai Ward 3rd, Middlesbrough were brimming with confidence. 

However, the lead was immediately cut to two points as the untouchable Harrison won after passing Phillips, and with Mickie Simpson also getting the better of the Tigers captain, the Steelers had their sights set on a lead of their own. 

Tigers guest Sam McGurk took an impressive win over Ablitt in a shared heat 10 with heat 11 pitting Harrison against Rushen, a battle of the two undefeated riders. The race saw a close battle with Harrison just taking the win, despite Rushen’s best efforts, but with Harrison Rogers 4th, the Steelers were still two behind. 

Heat 12 saw disaster strike on bend four of the final lap for the Steelers who looked set for a 5-1 heat advantage until Etherington fell on the last bend, allowing both Tigers through for a 3-3 to keep the visitors two ahead. 

However, Scunthorpe then struck a superb 5-1 in heat 13 to lead 40-38 as Harrison won again, and with Ablitt 2nd, Scunthorpe had the all-important advantage heading into heats 14 & 15. 

Heat 14 saw Ward flip the bike at the start, and to compound the Tigers misery, Simpson won in a Steelers 4-2 to give the hosts a 44-40 lead with one race remaining. The final heat saw Rushen defeat Simpson for the win, but with McGurk only able to get the better of Ablitt, the Tigers fell just short in a 46-44 reverse. 

Scunthorpe/Sheffield Steelers = 46

1. Nathan Ablitt = 9+1

2. Luke Harris = 2+1

3. Mickie Simpson = 13+1

4. R/R for Vinne Foord 

5. Luke Harrison = 15 MAX

6. Harrison Rogers = 2

7. Jamie Etherington = 5+1

Middlesbrough Tigers = 44

1. Tom Spencer = 4+1

2. Cooper Rushen (G) = 14

3. Sam McGurk (G) = 9+2

4. Jacob Clouting (G) = 7

5. Danny Phillips = 0

6. Laylan Richardson (G) = 2

7. Kai Ward = 8+1