Scorpions stun Bears in thriller!
SCUNTHORPE stunned Redcar with a 48-42 win at the ECCO Arena. The Scorpions, who were humiliated 58-32 back in March in BSN Series action, completely turned the tables on Redcar on Friday in Cab Direct Championship action. Former Bear Danny King, (guesting in place of the injured Nicolai Klindt) hit paid 9 for Redcar whilst Josh Pickering struck 14 for Scunthorpe.
The visitors started in fine fettle with an opening heat maximum as Pickering won, and with Connor Mountain 2nd ahead of Redcar debutant Simon Lambert, the Bears had work to do.
However, heat two saw the Bears reserves level the meeting as Ace Pijper won convincingly, and with Jody Scott passing ex-Bear Dan Gilkes on lap two, the hosts immediately hit back.
After Jason Edwards won a shared heat three, Redcar hit their second heat advantage of the match to take the lead as Jake Allen won, and with Scott 3rd, Redcar led after the opening block of races.
Heat five saw a superb battle as Edwards initially got the drop on heat one winner Pickering. However, the all-out Australian was buzzing around Edwards’ back wheel and cut back on the run to the line. However, Edwards held on, much to the delight of the home crowd, and with Jake Mulford 3rd, the Bears had opened up a four point lead in the north-east.
After Michael Palm-Toft won a shared heat six, the visitors bounced back with their second maximum to level the match as Nathan Ablitt won, and with Luke Harrison passing his ex-teammate Jake Allen for 2nd, David Howe’s men silenced the home faithful.
After Mountain got the better of an entertaining tussle with Lambert in a shared heat eight, the “Agilia” Bears regained the lead in heat nine as Mulford took a convincing win, and with Edwards 3rd, Redcar found themselves back in front.
King took his first chequered flag of the evening in heat 10, but with both Ablitt and Harrison passing Lambert, Redcar could not extend their two point advantage.
That advantage was ripped away from the Bears in a thrilling heat 11 as Pickering won after initially gating (but was passed by the hard charging Allen), only for the Scorpions skipper to repay the favour to the Bears captain to make it eight points out of nine on the evening, and with Mountain 3rd, we again had a level meeting at the ECCO Arena.
Nevertheless, the Bears kept battling and the meeting once again swung in their favour as Mulford continued his impressive evening at number three with another win, and with Scott 3rd, the Bears re-established their two point advantage. Pickering continued to be a thorn in Redcar’s side as he won heat 13, and with Palm-Toft 3rd, the Scorpions once again levelled proceedings.
Heat 14 saw Gilkes hit the deck on the opening bends, with the youngster unfortunately being taken from the track in an ambulance. With all four riders invited back for a re-run and Ryan Ingram replacing Gilkes, Redcar were looking to re-take the lead heading into heat 15.
After a long delay, the home crowd were stunned as Harrison and Ingram combined for a remarkable 5-1 to send Scunthorpe four ahead heading into the final race. Heat 15 saw Scunthorpe have choice of gates and they elected for gates two and four. Pickering won to seal a priceless away win, and with Palm-Toft 3rd, Scunthorpe secured a 48-42 away win.
Redcar must now regroup ahead of a trip to Oxford on Wednesday as they look to bounce back and get their first points of the league season on the board.
Redcar Bears = 42
- Danny King (G) = 8+1
- Simon Lambert = 5
- Jake Mulford = 7
- Jason Edwards = 8
- Jake Allen = 6
- Ace Pijper = 3
- Jody Scott = 5+2
Scunthorpe Scorpions = 48
- Josh Pickering = 14
- Connor Mountain = 6+1
- Nathan Ablitt = 8+1
- Luke Harrison = 8+2
- Michael Palm Toft = 9
- Ryan Ingram = 2+1
- Dan Gilkes = 1