ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions are looking to amass as many points as possible, when they host the Glasgow Tigers in the first leg of their Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway tomorrow evening (Friday, September 11) at 7.30pm.

Scunthorpe are seeking to emulate the 2012 Scorpions, the only previous speedway team from the town to win a second-tier league title, who defeated Somerset by 92-91 in an epic play-off final.

There are two weeks between the two legs, since the second leg at Glasgow does not take place until Friday, September 25. The winner on aggregate will meet either Poole or Edinburgh in the final, and the winner of the final will be crowned Cab Direct Championship league champions.

The two sides were very close in the final league table, with Glasgow second and Scunthorpe third, while it was also extremely close between the two teams on aggregate. Tigers took the bonus point by 91-89, but the meeting at Scunthorpe took place way back in May and there’s a feeling that Scorpions are riding much better at home now than earlier in the season.

Jacob Hook continues to be ruled out with a broken collarbone. He will again be replaced by Jordan Jenkins, who scored a 9+3 paid maximum as a guest for Scorpions in the last meeting at the EWR – a massive 61-29 victory against fellow play-off side Edinburgh on August 28. Riders are limited to guesting for one side during the play-offs, so there’s a strong chance this won’t be the only time that Jenkins appears for Scunthorpe.

For Glasgow, they have special dispensation to continue using full-average guests for the retired Kyle Howarth and bring in Tate Zischke. Meanwhile, Anze Grmek covers for injured Mario Hausl at reserve.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “There didn’t seem to be anybody at the start of the season who had us marked down as top four finishers and qualifying for the play-offs – most people thought we’d be bottom – but this team has done us proud and we are now only two good performances away from the play-off final itself.

“There are no targets for the meeting against Glasgow at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday. The boys know that every point counts and we just want to carry on from where we left off against Edinburgh at the EWR last time.

“When Glasgow came here in May, it was very close until the final two races. But Kyle Howarth was Tigers’ top scorer in that meeting and he’s no longer around, while we’re now riding very strongly at home.

“If we do get to the final, it will be a massive achievement and if we do, we have got to believe that we can go on and win it against either Poole or Edinburgh. But it’s one step at a time and, to begin with, we have to make sure we take care of Glasgow over two legs.

“This is a big occasion for not only our club, but the town of Scunthorpe. The more supporters we have inside the Eddie Wright Raceway getting behind the boys, the better, so that we can go up to Glasgow on September 25 in a very healthy position.”

Accompanied children are FREE for the meeting, while there will also be a kids race during the evening.

For those who cannot make it to the Eddie Wright Raceway, the British Speedway Network (BSN) are streaming the meeting at: https://www.britishspeedwaynetwork.co.uk/

ADMISSION PRICES FOR TOMORROW (FRIDAY):

Adult: £20

Student/OAP: £18

Child (0 – 16): Free (must be accompanied by paying adult)

Programme: £1.50

Car Parking free

Pay on the day at the turnstiles by cash or card.

Expected teams for tomorrow (Friday):

Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Pickering (C), 2. Nathan Ablitt, 3. Jordan Jenkins (guest), 4. Michael Palm Toft, 5. Luke Harrison, 6. Ryan Ingram, 7. Connor Mountain.

Glasgow Tigers: 1. Leon Flint, 2. Sam Hagon, 3. Tate Zischke (guest), 4. Kevin Juhl Pedersen, 5. Chris Harris (C), 6. Freddy Hodder, 7. Anze Grmek (guest).

Image Credits: Ian Rispin

Report: Rob Peasley