Scunthorpe V Buxton - Monday, June 4th (nl) (follows Pl Meeting)

[lucifer sam 3,953]

BIRKS BACK FOR SAINTS, WHILE JONES MAKES DEBUT

WITH no fewer than five of their regular squad unavailable, a very familiar name will guest for the Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints for their Bank Holiday Monday clash at the Eddie Wright Raceway against the Buxton Hitmen – that of current Scorpion Ashley Birks.

 

It will be a busy afternoon for Birks, who will also ride in the preceding Scorpions v Sheffield League Cup fixture. Birks, who rides for Stoke in the National League this season, was a member of the Saints’ team who won the National League championship in such unforgettable style in 2011.

 

Experienced Steve Jones (pictured) will also make his Saints debut, while flying Welshman Tom Young will be fit to resume racing, after hurting his wrist last Sunday.

 

Team boss Stuart Parnaby said: “It’s been a tough mission getting together six riders, plus rider replacement, for this meeting.

 

“We will still be without the injured pair of Adam Wrathall and Oliver Greenwood on Monday. Oliver has seen a specialist and he’s not quite ready to return – he’s probably a couple of weeks away.

 

“Gary Irving is riding for Premier League Workington on Monday, and likewise Steve Worrall is riding for Newcastle.

 

“Jerran Hart is going to take a break from speedway for a while. I did try to persuade him to continue riding for the Saints after being dropped from the Scorpions, but he was a long way from home up here. I think he needs a little time to himself, to think things over.

 

“Thankfully Tom Young is OK to ride, despite banging his wrist during the Dudley match last weekend. He was just sensational in that meeting, and fully deserved his first maximum for the Saints.

 

“I’m glad that Tom has also been named as Scorpions’ No. 8 on Monday, and it can’t be long before he makes his full Premier League debut if he keeps up his current form.

 

“We also have Steve Jones coming in on Monday. He impressed at the last amateur meeting at Scunthorpe, winning it in good style by passing Gary O’Hare and Jake Knight in the final, so has earned a place in the Saints’ side on Monday on merit.”

 

Jones is 32-years-old, having made his league debut for Linlithgow Lighting, a former track in Scotland, in 1997. He has much experience of riding in the sport’s third tier, with a handful of appearances for Newport in 2011 marking his return to league racing after a gap of three years.

 

Amateur meeting organiser Richard Hollingsworth said: “I’m very pleased for Steve Jones, who is getting a ride with the Saints on Monday.

 

“Whilst we are always looking for young and inexperienced riders like Oliver Greenwood, Tommy Fenwick, Danny Phillips and Max Clegg to follow in the footsteps of Gary Irving, Stevie Worrall, Richie Worrall, Ashley Birks, etc, his outstanding performance in the last amateur meeting made him an obvious choice when we needed an experienced rider to fill in.

 

“Hopefully Monday will lead to further opportunities for Steve, either with the Saints or another side, and hopefully more riders will realise the power of the amateur meetings at Scunthorpe.

 

“When National League places are available, then they’re almost certainly going to be won at the amateur meetings, with the club promoter and both club team managers watching them.”

 

Teams for Sunday:

 

Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints: 1. Ashley Birks, 2. Tommy Fenwick, 3. Steve Worrall R/R, 4. Steve Jones, 5. Tom Young, 6. Danny Phillips, 7. Max Clegg.

 

Buxton Hitmen: 1. Robert Branford, 2, Richard Andrews, 3. Luke Priest, 4. Dean Felton, 5. Adam McKinna, 6. Michael Neale, 7. Ryan Blacklock.

[Lewis 76]

Looking forward to seeing Tom Young again, he gets better every time, he might even get a couple of rides in the PL meeting beforehand. Cant see us (Saints) winning this but will be interesting to watch the progression of the riders. Hope all keep safe & we have some good racing.

[June 203]

Lewis I'm tipping the Saints to win.....".no pressure lads, just get stuck in like you did against Dudley". I have so much faith in the youngsters who try their best every time they race." Enjoy and good luck to you all ! " ...... GO SAINTS!!!!!!!!

[spin king junior 394]

Updates available here- http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=scunthorpe&thread=10266&page=1

[shad176 10]

what a real shame for jerran hart, i hope this lad is,nt lost to speedway...smooth stylish and bloody good when i,v seen him at monmore..i really hope you get a pl place again soon

[speedy bill 154]

thought the hitmen woulds have won this one but it was a bad day for em could anything else have gone wrong think we need one more point scorer from somwhere

[June 203]

Well done Saints !.... A good team effort producing a very good win. Thanks to the brill Ashley Birks. Excellent guest!

[Lewis 76]

Didn't see that coming June, though Steve Jones was rider of the meeting for me, didnt expect anything from him WOW!

 

Thought Clegg was going to drown in that water in turn 4, he rode great as well, in fact they all did!

 

Well done to the saints.

[EC Rides Again 143]

Didn't see that coming June, though Steve Jones was rider of the meeting for me, didnt expect anything from him WOW!

 

Thought Clegg was going to drown in that water in turn 4, he rode great as well, in fact they all did!

 

Well done to the saints.

 

Here here, Lewis.

 

Fantastic debut from Steve Jones, where has this fella been hiding? Max Clegg made it look easy on the watered track in the early heats, the lad has a big future - he reminds me of Kyle Howarth in his first season with the Saints. Dan and Tommy also improved as it went along. Super Guest Ash was never troubled.

 

The Hitmen face a long hard road this season. Branford looks a shadow of his former self.

[lucifer sam 3,953]

I really, really enjoyed the Saints meeting again today. Great stuff from the whole team.

 

All the best

Rob

[chopper 88]

Here here, Lewis.

 

Fantastic debut from Steve Jones, where has this fella been hiding? Max Clegg made it look easy on the watered track in the early heats, the lad has a big future - he reminds me of Kyle Howarth in his first season with the Saints. Dan and Tommy also improved as it went along. Super Guest Ash was never troubled.

 

The Hitmen face a long hard road this season. Branford looks a shadow of his former self.

 

 

Really possibly his bike was breaking down, thats a possibility.

 

Chopper

[dirtdodger 27]

wow! the national league racing at E.W.R just gets better and better,well done to all the saints squad.pleased to see jonesey not lost to speedway alltogether.

[montie 1,273]

Big win from the mighty Saints,Birks in a different class,Jones impresive as was Max clegg

 

Tom Young is still the one to impress me this season,great to see and lad grab the chance hes had ,PL soon for this kid!!

[IronScorpion 1,407]

Another good win for the Saints but i expected a better show from Buxton. With Birks scoring well in the PL it is also showing he is too good for the NL boys & there was a lot of experience out there. Young, Jones & Clegg had more than good but not great meetings showing that there is still a lot to learn. Clegg adapting better than most to the greasy, newly graded track for the Saints meeting which caught others out, but for me, same as last week, they need to learn how to ride, attack, pressurise & possibly pass by riding in the deep stuff. The younger lads do not seem to be able to turn & control their bikes in the dirt, but it's something to learn, which is what this season is about. Tom Young scoring some good points on well prepared machinery as he seems to have speed in his bike but, big him up as some might, he is not ready for a PL reserve spot which could destroy all the good work he has achieved so far.

[June 203]

Talking to Tom Young in the pits after the meeting. He blew an engine in his last race!....His dad seems to take in his stride though. Hope it doesn't turn out to be too expensive!