Tough night at Poole

POOLE PIRATES 61 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 29   (MAXiCab Knockout Cup, first round, first leg)

ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions endured a difficult night at Poole, losing 29-61 in the first leg of their first round tie in the MAXiCab Knockout Cup last night (Wednesday).

Pirates are the reigning holders and quickly flew into the lead and built up their lead to 43-17 after ten races.

Skipper Josh Pickering and Nathan Ablitt posted Scorpions’ only heat advantage with a 4-2 in Heat 11, with both overtaking an opponent.

Pickering also won Heat 13, while Heat 14 summed up the night for the visitors. Connor Mountain and Simon Lambert initially held a 5-1, but Lambert dropped back and fell on the second lap, forcing a stoppage. Mountain then lost out to Fraser Bowes in the re-run, as Pirates took a 4-2.

Pickering (12), Mountain (8) and Lambert (6) scored all but three of Scorpions’ total of 29.

16-year-old Cooper Rushen (9+3) scored his first paid maximum at Cab Direct Championship level for Poole.

POOLE 61: Zach Cook 13, Lewis Kerr 11, Richard Lawson 10+1, Cooper Rushen 9+3, Fraser Bowes 8+1, Kyle Newman 7+1, Will Cairns 3.
SCUNTHORPE 29: Josh Pickering 12, Connor Mountain 8, Simon Lambert 6, Luke Harrison 1+1, Nathan Ablitt 1, Michael Palm Toft 1, Ryan Ingram 0.

* ELLIE ROSE TRAVEL Scunthorpe Scorpions take on Poole in the second and deciding leg at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday (April 10) at 7.30pm.

Photo Credits: Ian Rispin

Report by: Rob Peasley