SCUNTHORPE maintained their unbeaten home record with a convincing 53-37 success over the Redcar Bears to move to the top of the Cab Direct Championship table. Both skippers top scored for their sides as Josh Pickering struck a flawless 15 point full maximum whilst Charles Wright continued his impressive return from injury with 14 points.
The hosts registered an impressive 12 heat winners, and with only 5 last places, it left the “Agilia” Bears with a mountain they ultimately could not climb. This result leaves Redcar 6th in the table heading into the final six league matches of the regular season.
Bears co-promoter Jamie Swales was in a philosophical mood after the defeat. Swales said, “I never really felt we were totally outclassed but we were beaten by fine margins in each race and they are a very good side on home shale.”
Heat one began with a tapes infringement as Connor Mountain reacted to a twitch from Redcar’s Simon Lambert which sent the former through the tapes, with Scorpions boss David Howe electing to bring in his reserve Nathan Ablitt from the tapes. Scunthorpe gated on a maximum, but Wright made short work of Ablitt, but with the Brit unable to reel in Pickering, the hosts started with a 4-2.
Scunthorpe’s positive start to proceedings continued in the reserves race as Ryan Ingram won convincingly, and with Ablitt holding off Jody Scott for 2nd, Gavin Parr had plenty to think about after two heats in Lincolnshire.
Heat 3 saw another obliteration of the tapes with Michael Palm-Toft the guilty party after Jake Mulford moved, and the Dane was excluded from the re-run. However, this didn’t hamper the hosts as his replacement, Ryan Ingram made it two wins on the bounce, but with Dan Gilkes at the back, Scunthorpe’s run of heat advantages had been stopped.
After a pair of shared heats won by Luke Harrison and Charles Wright respectively, Scunthorpe edged further ahead in heat six as Pickering continued on his merry way with another classy win, and with Mountain pipping Ace Pijper on the line, Redcar were eight down and without a heat advantage.
Heat 7 saw another win for Harrison, but with the Bears pairing of Jason Edwards and Jake Mulford packing the minor placings, Redcar did not lose further ground. The next heat saw an incredible pass from Simon Lambert as he squeezed through the smallest of gaps to pass Ablitt for the win, but with Mountain passing Scott, Redcar remained eight in arrears.
Heat 9 saw Parr play his tactical substitute as Wright joined Jake Allen at the tapes, with Redcar in desperate need of a heat advantage. With the travelling Bears’ support hoping Parr’s decision would pay dividends, Wright forced his way to the front, and with Allen 2nd, suddenly, the Bears were within 4 of the Scorpions.
However, just as Redcar thought they were bouncing back into contention, the hosts showed exactly why they boast an unbeaten home record. Pickering won, and despite Mulford’s best efforts, Mountain finished 2nd, handing Scunthorpe a big 5-1 to re-establish an 8 point lead.
Remarkably, the Scorpions have recorded a heat advantage in heat 10 in every league home meeting this season!
Heat 11 saw the impressive Harrison somehow hold off the faster looking Wright to win, but with Ingram 4th, Redcar still had a glimmer of hope.
Heat 12 saw a lot of the hope evaporate as Gilkes won, and with Ablitt 3rd, Scunthorpe were 41-31 ahead and closing in on a place at the top of the Cab Direct Championship table.
Heat 13 saw Scunthorpe secure the spoils with their fourth 4-2 as Pickering completed his programmed rides with another win despite the close attentions of Wright, and with Harrison 3rd, (despite losing out on the chance of a maximum), the Scorpions had won with 2 heats to spare.
The penultimate heat saw Ingram round off another impressive night around the Eddie Wright Raceway with a win, and with Palm-Toft 3rd, it was the hosts 7th heat advantage. Heat 15 saw Pickering complete his full maximum with his 5th win, and with Harrison 3rd, the Scorpions had secured all 3 points (including the aggregate bonus) on home shale.
Scunthorpe Scorpions : 53 (101)
1. Josh Pickering = 15 MAX
2. Connor Mountain = 4+2
3. Dan Gilkes = 4+1
4. Michael Palm Toft = 4
5. Luke Harrison = 11
6. Ryan Ingram = 9
7. Nathan Ablitt = 6+1
Redcar Bears : 37 (79)
1. Charles Wright = 14
2. Simon Lambert = 4+1
3. Jake Mulford = 4+2
4. Jason Edwards = 7
5. Jake Allen = 6+1
6. Ace Pijper = 0
7. Jody Scott = 2+1