ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions can equal their best-ever finish at second-tier level and secure second place in the final Cab Direct Championship table by either by winning or taking the aggregate bonus point in their final regular league meeting at Glasgow tomorrow evening (Friday, September 4) at 7.30pm.
If Glasgow were to win the meeting and Scunthorpe take the aggregate point, both sides would finish on 25 points, but Scorpions would have superior race points difference. Scunthorpe won the corresponding meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway in May by 49-41.
The two sides are already due to meet again in the play-off semi-finals, since they will fill the second and third places in the table. Poole are top and Edinburgh fourth – whatever happens at Glasgow – and they will meet in the other semi-final.
Jordan Jenkins will again guest for the injured Jacob Hook. Last week, Jenkins scored a 9+3 paid maximum for Scorpions in a 61-29 home victory over Edinburgh.
In the meantime, Reid Battye comes in for Luke Harrison, who is riding in the European Under-19 Final in Slovenia this weekend.
Nathan Ablitt moves up from reserve to No 4, but Scorpions will still have a trump card at reserve, since Connor Mountain will now occupy the No 7 berth.
Glasgow have gained special dispensation to keep using full-average guests for the retired Kyle Howarth and he is replaced by Dan Thompson, while Max Perry steps in the injured Mairo Hausl.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey says: “We’d like to finish second in the Cab Direct Championship table. It would equal our second place of 2012, and, of course, that season we went on to become league champions.
“We’ll approach the meeting like any other and try to win it, but we know the aggregate bonus point would be enough.
“We’ve got Glasgow in the play-offs in any case. But if we finish second we get the choice of whether we have our home leg first or second.
“It’s also an important night for our lads to dial themselves into the Glasgow track. It will certainly give the Tigers food for thought if we prove highly competitive up there.”
Expected teams for tomorrow (Friday):
Glasgow Tigers: 1. Leon Flint, 2. Sam Hagon, 3. Dan Thompson (guest), 4. Kevin Juhl Pedersen, 5. Chris Harris (C), 6, Max Perry (guest), 7. Freddy Hodder.
Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Pickering (C), 2. Reid Battye (guest), 3. Jordan Jenkins (guest), 4. Nathan Ablitt, 5. Michael Palm Toft, 6. Ryan Ingram, 7. Connor Mountain.
* JOSH PICKERING and Luke Harrison finished sixth representing the Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Championship Best Pairs at Poole on Wednesday evening. Pickering scored 15 points – just one short of the maximum 16 – while Harrison added two points.
* THE next home meeting for Ellie Rose Travel Scunthorpe Scorpions at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway will be a play-off semi-final against Glasgow Tigers – with the date to be confirmed in due course. Please keep an eye on the club’s social media and the official website at https://www.scunthorpe-speedway.co.uk/
PHOTO BY IAN RISPIN
