Scunthorpe 49 Stoke 44 

STOKE Easy Rider Potters went down to a narrow 49-44 defeat against the Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Premier Trophy at the Eddie Wright Raceway last night.  

The Potters did not leave empty handed though as they took a point out of the meeting as they lost by less than six points with Scunthorpe taking two points for their home win.

 The Potters suffered a setback before the meeting started with the news that Hynek Stichauer had been taken ill and was unable to take his place in the side with youngster Gary Irving being drafted in to replace the Czech Republic rider as the Potters were informed they could not use rider replacement due to Stichauer not having ridden in any official matches.

 The Scorpions took the lead in heat one as former England international David Howe headed home Jason Bunyan after the Stoke skipper passed Viktor Bergstrom giving the Scorpions a 4-2 heat advantage.  

Stoke’s response was immediate though as James Holder held Jerran Hart at bay to take victory with Taylor Poole taking third to level the scores up at six points a piece after two races.

 Scunthorpe were back in front after heat three as Magnus Karlsson headed home Klaus Jakobsen to take a comfortable race win with Scorpions winter signing Joel Parsons taking third for a 4-2 heat win to put Scunthorpe 10-8 up after three heats.

 Scunthorpe’s Simon Lambert and Carl Wilkinson led heat number four before Potters youngster Taylor Poole firstly picked off Lambert at the end of the first lap and then overhauling Wilkinson to take a sensational victory in heat four as the Potters reserve kept the deficit to just two points.

 Stoke levelled the scores in heat five with a 4-2 heat advantage. Scunthorpe were on a maximum 5-1 heat advantage before Joel Parsons reared allowing Bunyan through into second place then Scorpions heatleader Magnus Karlsson suffered an engine failure allowing Bunyan to take victory with Parsons second and Stoke’s Michal Rajkowski taking third to tie the score up to 15 points a piece after five races. 

The Scorpions replied with a 4-2 of their own in heat six as home number one David Howe made an electric start to take an easy victory from Potter Ricky Wells as Bergstrom held off Stoke’s Holder who just could not find away passed the Swede to open up a two point lead for Scunthorpe.

 The Potters then struck home with two successive 4-2 heat advantages to fire themselves into the lead after eight heats. Firstly Jakobsen and Gary Irving levelled the scores up in heat seven and then Potters reserve Taylor Poole and Michal Rajkowski took heat eight as Bergstrom could only split the Stoke pairing to give Stoke a 25-23 lead after eight heats.

 Scunthorpe level the scores up at 27 points each in heat nine as they gain a 4-2 heat advantage with Parsons and Karlsson gaining the advantage Ricky Wells managing to split the Scorpions pairing. The Scorpions then went in front a heat later when Howe and Bergstrom took maximum points in heat ten of Jakobsen as Scunthorpe open up a four point lead as Stoke trail 32-10 after ten races.

 Taylor Poole rode superbly to take victory in heat eleven for the Potters as he came from third to first as he passed Jerran Hart and Carl Wilkinson but unfortunately Potters skipper Bunyan was unable to find away past the Scorpions pairing.

 The Potters then suffered two maximum heat 5-1 reversals as first Hart and Parsons and then Howe and Wilkinson put Scunthorpe twelve points up with just two heats remaining as Holder and Poole and Bunyan and Wells could not find away past the Scorpions pairings as Scunthorpe lead 45-33 after thirteen heats.

 Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey nominates Taylor Poole as a tactical ride in heat fourteen and the Aussie youngster promptly delivers as he takes six points for the race win with his partner Klaus Jakobsen taking second as the Potters gain a maximum 8-1 race advantage as the Potters pairing keep Karlsson and Hart at bay to reduce the deficit to just five points as the Potters trail 46-41 going into the final heat. 

Howe takes victory for Scunthorpe in the final race but Taylor Poole and Klaus Jakobsen took the minor placings to give the Scorpions a 49-44 victory on the night but the Potters gain a point for not losing by more than six points. 

Potters team manager Malcolm Vasey said “I’m really pleased we’ve got something from this meeting, the lads all worked hard and all seven scored vital points. Taylor Poole was absolutely sensational for us tonight and Klaus Jakobsen was also in good form for us. We’ve now got off the mark in our trophy campaign and I’m really delighted to get something from my old club. Many people wrote us off after our opening two meetings but this proves what we can do as a team and we now have to build on tonight’s performance.”

 Scunthorpe 49: David Howe 15, Joel Parsons 8+1, Carl Wilkinson 7+2, Jerran Hart 7, Viktor Bergstrom 6+1, Magnus Karlsson 5, Simon Lambert 1+1

 Stoke 44: Taylor Poole 18, Klaus Jakobsen 9+1, Jason Bunyan 6, James Holder 4, Ricky Wells 4, Michal Rajkowski 2, Gary Irving 1