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Scorpions involved in exciting meeting at Workington
WORKINGTON COMETS 49 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 41
ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions showed plenty of fight in Cumbria yesterday afternoon (Saturday), but eventually it was home side Workington Comets who came away with a 49-41 victory in the Northern Section of the BSN Series.
Scunthorpe must now take all three points – including the aggregate bonus point – against Workington in the return clash at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday, May 1 to stand any chance of progression to the semi-finals of the competition.
In a compelling contest containing some top-notch racing, Scorpions put in a far more encouraging away performance than previously at Redcar or Poole, and were level with just four races remaining.
Comets flew into a 12-6 lead, before Scunthorpe’s comeback commenced in Heat 8. 16-year-old Ryan Ingram flew from the tapes and Nathan Ablitt stormed around Niklas Holm Jakobsen, as Scorpions hit back with a 5-1.
Ablitt was involved into another 5-1 in Heat 11 – this time with skipper Josh Pickering. Pickering won the race, while Ablitt won a battle with Workington guest Cooper Rushen for second place, while Comets’ previously unbeaten skipper Troy Batchelor trailed in last. The result levelled the scores at 33-33 heading into the interval.
Rushen looked like an inspired guest for Workington in place of the injured Vinnie Foord and so it proved, as he was involved in two 5-1s in Heats 12 and 14 that clinched victory for Comets. In between Pickering – who earlier had overtaken Craig Cook on the final lap to win Heat 5 – and Michael Palm Toft pegged back a 4-2 in Heat 13.
Pickering top-scored for Scorpions with a dozen points, with Ingram next on 6+1. Every Scorpion scored at least four points in a solid performance.
Scorpions’ manager David Howe said: “We battled hard, but in a way it’s worse to lose in a close meeting like this, than it is by 30 points.
“We worked hard to get level heading into the interval, but then the two 5-1s done us. In a way, we would have been better to be slightly further back, so Josh (Pickering) could have come in as a tactical substitute.
“There were plenty of promising signs. Nathan Ablitt turned his afternoon around and took two paid wins, while young Ryan Ingram continues to come in on leaps and bounds and he had a really good meeting. There were good signs from this meeting – we’ve just got to keep on improving.”
Ryan Ingram (who scored 6+1 and took his first away win at Cab Direct Championship level in Heat 8) said: “The whole day was a highlight. In Heat 8, I made the start and managed to find a good line. For my final ride, the track was slick and I didn’t have the set-up, but I had a good day in general and I was happy with it.”
WORKINGTON 49: Jonas Jeppesen 12+1, Craig Cook 12, Cooper Rushen 8+2, Tate Zischke 6+1, Troy Batchelor 6, Niklas Holm Jakobsen 5+1, Jamie Etherington 0.
SCUNTHORPE 41: Josh Pickering 12, Ryan Ingram 6+1, Luke Harrison 5+2, Michael Palm Toft 5+1, Connor Mountain 5, Nathan Ablitt 4+2, Simon Lambert 4.
* ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions next race at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday, May 1 (at 7.30pm), when they entertain Workington Comets in their final BSN Series qualifying fixture.
Photo Credits: Brett Thurlow
Report by: Rob Peasley
