Ommer Mon 381 Posted April 9, 2014 Well, after the Heathens magnificent display against Kings Lynn last night, what do you think the prospects are for this one? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
montie 1,273 Posted April 9, 2014 (edited) Well, after the Heathens magnificent display against Kings Lynn last night, what do you think the prospects are for this one? The heathens will get smoked...simple as that NEXT QUESTION? Edited April 9, 2014 by montie 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
June 203 Posted April 9, 2014 Well, after the Heathens magnificent display against Kings Lynn last night, what do you think the prospects are for this one? You mean Scunny Select v Scunny Rookies.....2 x N L ex Saints and 2x past/present P/L Scorps. .........Scunny fans know exactly what will happen. The rookies will get beaten in the same way that the select riders got beaten a few years ago.......Its all good for the Scunny youngsters. This is exactly why the NL team average should get reduced. GOOD LUCK STAGS.... ENJOY! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greyhoundp 990 Posted April 9, 2014 Yep agreed Scunny present v Scunny past, Im not gonna gloat, bcuz we may or may not win, but hopefully it will be a decent meeting, and all the riders will stay safe. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
semion 2,192 Posted April 10, 2014 I can see Scunthorpe declaring at The Interval. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ommer Mon 381 Posted April 10, 2014 Not many takers for a Heathens win then! I'm a tad more optimistic but I hope Scunny don't mess about and use it as an opportunity to get their averages down. Picking up June's point on the excellent record that Rob and the team have in producing good prospects (and a World Champ in the making no less)he has my full admiration on what he has achieved and British Speedway is now seing the benefit of his foresight and effort. This season, I would have liked to have seen a bit more experience in there. Whatever happens at 'home' affects no one but there are going to be some very difficult nights when they go on their travels. Good luck to them and I hope for an accident free afternoon. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,953 Posted April 11, 2014 (edited) THE CHAMPIONS ARE COMING! THERE’S a mouth-watering double-header at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday (3pm), with both the respective Premier League and National League champions in town. The FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions are involved in their first league match of the season, entertaining the Somerset Rebels; the team who succeeded the Scorpions as Premier League Champions. Meanwhile, the rookie riders of the Scunthorpe Stags face a very hard task – facing powerhouse Cradley Heath in a National League match. The Scorpions had suffered a torrid start to the season, losing their opening three League Cup matches and seeing No 1 Anders Mellgren suffer a fracture of the spine that is likely to him out of the rest of the 2014 campaign. But on Thursday night, the Scorpions took a terrific 53-41 away win at Sheffield, and the team will be hoping to continue that momentum against Somerset. “We’ve got to beat Somerset”, said Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey. “Up until the brilliant win at Sheffield, we’d had a horrible start to this season. We showed what we are capable at Sheffield, and we need to do that again at home to Somerset. “It’s vital for us to get our Premier League campaign with a home win – we don’t want to be playing catch up. I’m confident that we can start pick up away league points; but at the same time, we don’t want to losing points from home meetings. “It is a big meeting for us on Sunday. We’re bringing in Redcar’s Aaron Summers as the guest for Anders – the very best guest we could find.” Somerset have a very different looking line-up in 2014, but home and away wins against Newcastle to land the first silverware of the season in the Premier Shield, had demonstrated the Rebels again have a very effective team. The key to their team is Brady Kurtz, a highly-rated Australian who is brand new to British Speedway. Godfrey insists that the Scorpions will wait until the right time to bring in a replacement for the injured Mellgren. “It would be foolish to rush in”, he said. “We’ll wait until the right time, maybe it will be in a couple of weeks time, when the new averages kick in. “Whatever we decide, it will have a major bearing on the rest of our season. We need to make the right move, and make it at the right time.” Meanwhile, Godfrey was delighted with the progress shown by the Scunthorpe Stags last Sunday. Although the Stags lost 37-56 at home to King’s Lynn, it was a much improved performance on the Stags’ opening three matches, all of which resulted in heavy defeats. “I was very pleased by the performance of the Stags’ lads last week. Unfortunately we have a few of the boys out injured, but those left put in great performances, which were much improved from the previous week. “Both Ryan MacDonald and Danno Verge were paid for double figures, while Liam Sanderson’s ride to win Heat 14 from behind was just sensational. “We are on a hiding to nothing for this Sunday’s meeting against Cradley, but beyond that, we will see the riders continue to progress. “Last Sunday’s meeting convinced me we are doing the right thing with the Stags.” Danno Verge is away on Sunday – attending a training school held by former World Champion Jan O Pedersen in Denmark. Sunday’s adult admission price for the double-header is £17. It’s just £2 more than a single Premier League meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway, for 15 extra heats of action. The circuit rightfully has won the award, several times, for being the best racetrack in the Premier League, so a full and exciting day of racing is ahead. Admission prices for Sunday: Adult: £17.00Student/OAP: £15.00Child (10 – 17): £5.00Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)Family Ticket £39 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-16)Match Programme: £1.00 Expected teams for Sunday (English unless stated): FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Aaron Summers (Australia), 2. David Howe, 3. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Ryan Douglas (Australia). Somerset Rebels: 1. Nick Morris (Australia), 2. Todd Kurtz (Australia), 3. Brady Kurtz (Australia), 4. Pontus Aspgren (Sweden), 5. Oliver Allen, 6. Charles Wright, 7. Paul Starke. Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Steve Jones, 2. Ryan MacDonald (Scotland). 3. Sam Woods, 4. Adam Kirby, 5. R/R for Arron Mogridge, 6. Sam Chapman, 7. Liam Sanderson. Cradley Heathens: 1. Paul Starke, 2. Nathan Greaves, 3. Tom Perry, 4. Max Clegg, 5. Steve Worrall, 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Danny Phillips. Somerset Rebels at EWR Oliver Allen DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWRPontus Aspgren PL 1 4 5 0 5.00 5.00 5 from 4 rides (2013)Brady Kurtz DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWRTodd Kurtz PL 6 26 24 6 3.69 4.62 12 from 7 rides (2013)Nick Morris PL 18 89 176 13 7.91 8.49 15 from 6 rides (2012)Paul Starke PL 1 3 0 0 0.00 0.00 Charles Wright PL 5 20 15 3 3.00 3.60 4 + 1 from 5 rides (2012) Other Notes Somerset are the current Premier League Champions and won the 2014 Premier Shield. Oliver Allen2013 Premier League Riders Champion.Has represented GB in Speedway World Cup Tournaments.Has won League Championship titles at National, Premier and Elite League levels.Member of Swindon's PL KO Cup and Young Shield Winning Teams in 2000.Member of King's Lynn's PL KO Cup and Young Shield Winning Teams in 2005.Member of Coventry's EL KO Cup and Elite Shield Winning Teams in 2006. Pontus AspgrenMade his British League debut with Wolverhampton in the 2012 Elite League.Rode at Premier League level with Rye House in 2013.Has represented Sweden at Under-19 and Under-21 level. Brady KurtzRiding in his debut British League season.Twice Australian Under-16 Champion (125cc) in 2009/10 and 2011/12.New South Wales Under-16 Champion in 2011/12.New South Wales State Champion in 2013/14. Todd KurtzMember of Newport's Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.Australian and New South Wales Under-16 Champion in 2007/08. Nick MorrisFormer Scunthorpe Scorpion and a member of the 2012 Premier League Championship Winning Team.Twice Queensland Under-16 Champion in 2008/09 and 2009/10.New South Wales Under-16 Champion in 2009/10.Member of Buxton's National League Championship Winning Team in 2010.Member of Glasgow's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2011.Member of Swindon's Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2012.Member of Somerset's Premier League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2013.Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Swindon for the 2014 Elite League season. Paul StarkeMember of Plymouth's Conference Trophy and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2008.Member of Plymouth's National Trophy Winning Team in 2009.Member of Newcastle's PL KO Cup Winning Team in 2012.Member of Dudley's NL Championship, KO Cup and Fours Winning Teams in 2013.Will captain Cradley in the 2014 National League season. Charles WrightMember of Workington's PL Fours and Young Shield Winning Teams in 2008.Member of Somerset's Premier League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2013. Somerset Rebels' Results at EWR 05 May 2008 PL L Scunthorpe 51 Somerset 3913 April 2009 PT L Scunthorpe 53 Somerset 4005 June 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 47 Somerset 4303 May 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 56 Somerset 4002 October 2010 YS L Scunthorpe 70 Somerset 2025 April 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Somerset 4104 September 2011 PL Ph 2 L Scunthorpe 49 Somerset 4127 August 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 50 Somerset 4029 October 2012 PL POF L Scunthorpe 48 Somerset 4227 May 2013 PL W Scunthorpe 37 Somerset 56 (stats courtesy of John Eyre) Scunthorpe Scorpions Team sponsors: FluidAir Power Ltd:http://www.fluidair-power.co.uk GODFREY DELIGHTED WITH PROGRESS OF STAGS SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey is delighted with the progress of the club’s second team, the Scunthorpe Stags, in the National League so far this season. The Stags are being run as a joint venture between Scunthorpe and Elite League Champions Poole to find possible stars of the future for both clubs; although in terms of the day-to-day running of the side, this is being handled at Scunthorpe. As chairman of the Stags, it is Richard Hollingsworth who has assembled the side, picking up the best talent on offer from club’s regular Amateur Meetings. It’s fair to say that the approach of using one experienced rider (Steve Jones) and six rookies has drawn criticism from some quarters. Three heavy defeats were followed by a much improved 37-56 reverse at home to King’s Lynn last Sunday. But Godfrey insists the club’s approach to the National League is the one that is in the best interests of both the clubs who are financing the venture. “The Stags are all about rider progression and finding the next Tai Woffinden or Richie Worrall or Ashley Birks or Josh Auty”, says Godfrey. “And so far, rider progression is exactly what I’ve seen. One week I saw our performance at the Eddie Wright Raceway against Kent, the next week another home meeting against King’s Lynn. In between, the lads had been to King’s Lynn and Coventry. “They’d learnt so much in just a week. Ryan MacDonald was starting to get out the starts last Sunday and actually set the fastest time of the meeting in Heat 2, while Danno Verge is just looking so steady – and again he is improving all-the-time. “Young Liam Sanderson is a battler. He’s already got the speed, his dash past Scott Campos in Heat 14 was the highlight of the day on Sunday. Once Liam, who actually comes from Scunthorpe, has got just a little bit more control of the bike, he’s really going to go places. “It’s a shame we suffered some injuries in our first meeting, because Arron Mogridge was already showing potential, while Reece Downes - who seems to have been at Scunthorpe forever first as a mascot and now as a rider - is another young man going places.” Godfrey is well aware of the disparity of team strengths in the National League this season. On Sunday, Cradley come to the Eddie Wright Raceway with a power-packed septet of riders. “We’re on a hiding to nothing on Sunday”, he admits. “The Stags’ boys will battle, and we will celebrate every single point we pick up from the Heathens. “In some ways, we’re going to be turned over by ourselves on Sunday. The Cradley line-up contains two Scunthorpe assets (Steve Worrall and Matt Williamson), plus a further two riders who started off their careers with the-then Scunthorpe Saints in 2012 (Max Clegg and Danny Phillips). “Danny is a very good example of what we were all about in 2012 and what we’re even more about this season. “It’s fair to say he didn’t score too many points in 2012. But we stuck by him for the whole season, because we knew he had the potential. Stuart Parnaby, who was the boss of the Saints, hardly ever took Danny out of a ride – he was given four rides a meeting. We stuck by him in a way that many clubs would not. “It’s benefited Danny since, and now his career has started to take off. “It’s ironic that we will be beating ourselves on Sunday. I have no expectations as to what the scoreline may be. Cradley have seven quality riders, and every time we beat one, we will be claiming a prized scalp. “But once this fixture is out of the way, I’m sure we’ll see real progress once more from the Stags.” The difference in team strengths in the 2014 National League is one that is going to cause discussion throughout the season (although it should be pointed out that a meeting with a lopsided scoreline can still contain great racing). It’s not just the Stags involved in such meetings; on Wednesday, King’s Lynn lost 23-69 at Cradley, while Buxton are struggling to find top-end riders. Any future decisions how to level team strengths for future seasons are for the league as a whole to decide, although there will still be many fascinating twists and turns as the 2014 NL progresses. In the meantime, Godfrey says Scunthorpe Stags will continue their own programme of developing riders. “We’ve got a bunch of lads who are just starting off on their journeys”, he said. “Last team we did something similar to this, we unearthed Ashley Birks, Steve Worrall, Richie Worrall and Gary Irving. “The approach this time is even more dedicated to finding young riders, who will go on to become the Scorpions or Poole Pirates of the future. Richard Hollingsworth is passionate about bringing on riders. “We are chucking them in the deep end. I’ve seen a few people claim we might be damaging their confidence, but that’s not true at all. “Instead we’re watching the lads appreciate the opportunites given, grabbing hold of those opportunities with both hands, and starting to move forward. I know a lot of the fans really enjoy watching that happen. “It is going to be fantastic to watch their careers progress, and I very much hope that both Scunthorpe and Poole will reap the rewards in the years to come. “The current World Champion (Tai Woffinden) started his British racing career at Scunthorpe. It would be great to unearth another British World Champion”, concluded Godfrey. Edited April 11, 2014 by lucifer sam 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,953 Posted April 11, 2014 PHEW !! Did turn into a monster post! It was supposed to be two, but the forum joined them together. All the best Rob 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossy666 54 Posted April 12, 2014 I stand on the 3rd bend so get a pretty good view of the pits. I know that after a meeting riders want to get packed up and home,but with our ( Scunthorpe ) and the way they are trying to develop them it would be good to see encouragement from our prem team.Im not slagging here at all because I don't see all/hear all .on double headers it's one out so there is a prime example for the scorps to stick around,if this already happens great if not why. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greyhoundp 990 Posted April 13, 2014 The scoreline wasnt important, what was, was the debut of a young man Sam Chapman, he scored 12 points including beating Tom Perry, Max Clegg, and Matt Williamson for a very good debut. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ommer Mon 381 Posted April 13, 2014 21-69! Congratulations to Sam Chapman for making a single handed fight of it and to the Heathens for taking it seriously for 15 races. Is this really what a competitive National League is all about? Lord knows how Promoters are supposed to sell this to their fans when Scunny are in town. If you have a maximum points limit, I think its time to introduce a lower points limit too for the credibility of the sport. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greyhoundp 990 Posted April 13, 2014 (edited) 21-69! Congratulations to Sam Chapman for making a single handed fight of it and to the Heathens for taking it seriously for 15 races. Is this really what a competitive National League is all about? Lord knows how Promoters are supposed to sell this to their fans when Scunny are in town. If you have a maximum points limit, I think its time to introduce a lower points limit too for the credibility of the sport. Its pointless having a minimum points limit, if you dont have the riders, simply just reduce the points limit to 35. It would also not be a bad idea to have a draft system for 3 point riders. That would curb to some extent, the Cherry picking being done by certain clubs, same as the EL, Team finishing top of the League has last pick. Edited April 13, 2014 by greyhoundp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raymondbudd 57 Posted April 13, 2014 Disagree guys, the NL is all about rider development and Scunthorpe should be applauded for all they do for giving youngsters a chance. Other promoters who may have a different agenda should not be promoting NL speedway as the real deal, because it's not. Well done to all involved at Scunthorpe for helping young riders get track time. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg 123 Posted April 13, 2014 Scunni do a good job keep it up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
