By Report: Scunthorpe Scorpions reach semi-finals with Birmingham victory
Scunthorpe Scorpions comfortably saw off Birmingham Brummies to reach the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup.
Scorpions recorded a 61-29 victory in the second leg of their quarter-final tie at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday to win by a whopping 107-73 on aggregate.
The hosts never looked troubled. Already holding a 46-44 lead from the away leg, they flew into a 14-4 lead after three races and had progressed after Heat 10 with five races to spare, at which point the scoreline was 42-18.
Despite the final lopsided scoreline, there was some great racing on display. Michael Palm Toft experienced clutch problems and was last out of the gate in almost every ride. It didn’t stop him scoring paid 11 with a spectacular display of riding, including a burst from last to first in Heat 7.
Skipper Simon Lambert was again on top form. He was last out of the gate in Heat 9, but he passed firstly Joe Thompson and then Justin Sedgmen on the third lap, as he came through to join Jake Allen – who had also passed Sedgmen earlier in the race – for a 5-1.
The most spectacular race came in Heat 13. Birmingham pair Nick Morris and Sedgmen held a 5-1 early on, with the riders four abreast down the back straight. Somehow all four riders made it into the third bend, while Ryan Douglas and Palm Toft emerged in front and took a 5-1.
Recent signing Drew Kemp is quickly sizing up the Eddie Wright Raceway and scored eight points – including a win over Morris in Heat 1 and a further heat win in Heat 8 – while Nathan Ablitt also won his first race as a Scorpion in Heat 2.
Lambert – in the form of his life – rode his socks off to protect Connor Mountain from Zach Cook in Heat 12. The Scunthorpe skipper almost completed back-to-back paid maximums, but Morris passed early-leader Mountain in Heat 15, and there was no catching him from there.
Four Scorpions were paid for double figures – Mountain (11+2), Lambert (10+4), Douglas (10) and Palm Toft (9+2) – while Allen (9) and Kemp (8) also scored heavily. Ablitt contributed four – his last three appearances for the club have all seen him amongst the points and his efforts are well appreciated by the supporters.
Speaking post-meeting, skipper Simon Lambert said: “It was another really fantastic performance from the team, with everyone chipping in points.
“Nathan (Ablitt) is really starting to get it together – and it’s great to see. He’s got the right attitude – he’s asking questions and he’s a 100% trier. The reserves were high-flying tonight and that made it a great all-around team performance.
“Drew (Kemp) is now settling in. He’s the rider that Rob (Godfrey) wanted in all along and he’s starting to show what we know he’s capable of. I don’t think it will be long before he’s riding in the Premiership too.
“I really think we can win something this year, we’re going to be in contention in the league and we’re now through to the semi-finals of the cup. We had a good team, but now I think the team we’ve ended up with is even stronger than before.
“It would have been nice to get another maximum. But I’ve had a few now – I had one last week. It would have been great to get a five-ride maximum tonight, but I can’t be too disappointed with paid 14.
“I’m scoring those sorts of points, despite a lack of rides compared to some of the boys. Some of them are doing three or four meetings a week – I’m often doing only one meeting per week. I’m hoping my form is noticed and that I get snapped up by a Premiership club because I’ve shown what I can do.
“We’re working as a team and we’re getting the results. I always tell the boys there’s not seven of us, there’s 14, the mechanics included. We’re all pulling together and if we continue to do that with the team we’ve got, we can pick up some silverware.”
Scunthorpe will face Redcar Bears in the semi-finals on dates yet to be agreed, with defending champions Poole awaiting the winners of the semi-final in the final.
Scorpions are back in action at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday, 16 June, when the club host the Plymouth Gladiators in the Cab Direct Championship.
Report by Rob Peasley, photo by Ian Rispin
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