Scunthorpe V Ipswich (premier League) - Friday, April 19th (7.30pm)

[lucifer sam 3,960]

SCORPIONS COMMENCE LEAGUE TITLE DEFENCE

 

“THE season starts here!” That’s the message from Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey, as the Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions commence their Premier League title defence with matches home and away against the Ipswich Witches this week.

 

The Scorpions travel to Ipswich on Thursday evening, before hosting the Witches at the Eddie Wright Raceway in the return fixture on Friday (7.30pm).

 

Godfrey adds: “While it would have been nice to do well in the League Cup and the Premier Shield, it is the league which is our priority. It’s here that the really important stuff begins.

 

“We know from last season what it’s all about. It’s about getting comfortably into the play-offs, and then making sure the team is on top form come the end of the season.

 

“A couple of positive results this week would get our league campaign off to the start that we are looking for.”

 

The Ipswich Witches are looking to make amends for a disappointing 2012 season, in which they were pre-season Premier League favourites, but finished seventh and failed to reach the play-offs.

 

The Witches have brought in Great Britain international Ben Barker as a genuine No 1, and have two young hot shots at reserve in Australian Cameron Heeps and French-born Brit Adam Ellis.

 

Ellis won the 500cc section of the British Under-15 Championship round at Scunthorpe in 2012.

 

Godfrey said: “Ipswich may not have the best record around the Eddie Wright Raceway, but we won’t be taking anything for granted. However, we will be seeking to take all three league points out of the home meeting.

 

“We won in fabulous style at Ipswich last July. It was perhaps the result that really made the rest of the league sit up and take notice.

 

“It’s unlikely to be as easy this time. Somerset went to Ipswich last week in the League Cup and came away without a point.

 

“But we’d love to come away from Foxhall Heath with a good result, and some points to show for our efforts.”

 

Ryan Douglas is set to return to action for the two meetings against the Witches. He damaged his thumb and hand at the Eddie Wright Raceway last Friday, and subsequently missed the meeting at Newcastle on Sunday. Josh Bates - another absentee at Newcastle - is also due to return to the Scorpions’ line-up.

 

A home victory on Friday would be the 16th successive Premier League home win for the Scorpions, as the team close in the second-tier club record of twenty successive home league wins set by the 1983-84 Scunthorpe Stags.

 

The Stags actually went 23 home meetings undefeated (after 20 home wins, there was a draw with Stoke), recording 22 wins and 1 draw, before tasting defeat to Hackney in July 1984.

 

In all competitions, since an Emiliano Sanchez inspired Sheffield won at the Eddie Wright Raceway last June, the Scorpions have won their last 17 official home matches – 11 Premier League, 3 play-off, 2 League Cup and 1 Premier Shield.

 

Teams for Friday (English unless stated):

 

Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Auty, 2. David Howe 3. Michael Palm Toft (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 6. Josh Bates, 7. Ryan Douglas (Australia).

 

Ipswich Witches: 1. Ben Barker, 2. Jari Makinen (Finland), 3. Rohan Tungate (Australian), 4. Morten Risager (Denmark), 5. Leigh Lanham, 6. Adam Ellis, 7. Cameron Heeps (Australia).

 

Admission Prices for Friday:

Adult: £14.00

Student/OAP: £12.00

Child (10 - 16): £5.00

Child (0 - 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult)

Family Ticket £33 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-16)

Match Programme: £1.00

 

 

Scorpions Info

 

Josh Auty has now moved into 3rd place in the all-time Top Scorers for the club (1417 to date).

Josh has also moved into 4th place in the all-time list for Bonus Points scored for the club (112 to date).

 

Ipswich Witches at EWR

 

Ave Ave Best

Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance

Ben Barker PL 4 19 41 2 8.63 9.05 15 from 5 rides (2008)

Adam Ellis DEBUT PL MEETING @ EWR

Cameron Heeps PL 1 4 1 0 1.00 1.00 1 from 4 rides (2012)

Leigh Lanham PL 5 24 44 1 7.33 7.50 14 from 5 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2011))

Jari Makinen PL 2 8 8 0 4.00 4.00 5 from 4 rides (2012)

Morten Risager PL 3 11 7 0 2.55 2.55 4 from 4 rides (2012)

Rohan Tungate PL 1 4 4 1 4.00 5.00 4 + 1 from 4 rides (2012)

 

Other Notes

 

Ben Barker

Has represented Great Britain in Speedway World Cup Events.

Member of Oxford's Conference League Championship Winning Team in 2005.

Member of Coventry's Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2010.

Member of Stoke's Conference League Four Team Championship Winning Team in 2006.

Member of Coventry's Craven Shield Winning Team in 2008.

Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Birmingham for the 2013 Elite League Season.

 

Adam Ellis

Riding in his first full season in British speedway.

Appeared in all three major domestic leagues in 2012.

Winner of the 500cc class in the round held at EWR of the 2012 British Youth Championship.

Will also ride for the Isle of Wight in the 2013 National League.

 

Cameron Heeps

5 times Western Australian Under-16 Champion (2006 to 2010).

Member of Mildenhall's National League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.

2012 Western Australia State Champion.

 

Leigh Lanham

1997 British Under-21 Champion.

Member of Exeter's Young Shield Winning Team in 1997.

Member of Newport's Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011.

 

Jari Makinen

2007 Finnish Under-21 Champion

 

Morten Risager

Member of Coventry's Elite League Championship Winning Teams in 2005 and 2007.

Member of Coventry's Elite Shield Winning Team in 2006.

Made his British League debut with Coventry in 2004.

Member of Ipswich's Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2011.

 

Rohan Tungate

Has won multiple Long track and Dirt track titles in Australia and is riding in his 2nd PL season with Ipswich.

Named as a 'doubling-up rider with Poole for the 2013 Elite League Season.

 

Ipswich's Results at EWR:

 

03 June 2011 KOC1 L Scunthorpe 55 Ipswich 35

01 July 2011 KOC1R L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 37

05 August 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 53 Ipswich 39

26 June 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 61 Ipswich 31

(stats courtesy of John Eyre)

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv 10,730]

A big home win seems most likely here.

 

If the Witches pick up even a losing point it would be a surprise.

 

Will go for 54 - 40.

[Baldyman 6,245]

Ipswich to lose by 20

[Super Blue 616]

Yet more pessimism im afraid , I will go for a big home win for this one , not even gonna try to predict a score !

[Roland 63]

The start of the season for real......need to take all points at home and sneak something away. Come September might well be looking back at this meeting and saying 'what if', so lets have no slip-ups. Would have been at EWR but off to another little skid in Polska to see the Ipswich riders clean up! 1-2-3.....Hampel, Tommy and Ward....no brainer....over and out!

[Roger Jacobs 567]

Witches best score at EWR is 37 (not counting artifical joker increases), so it's not easy to be optimistic. Hopefully a good victory at Foxhall will set them up for a better performance away, with Barker a better #1 than in previous visits, and Ellis has ridden there before (a rarity for him). Tungate & Heeps (sounds like a detective duo) are in decent form - so the focus will be on Risager & Lanham to deliver a few points more than they have before, and Makinen to deliver anything.

[Baldyman 6,245]

Well since this is now going to be our first league match of the season, do we really stand a chance of an away point? I think we will do better than last season's showings but think will lose by 12

[Super Blue 616]

Well since this is now going to be our first league match of the season, do we really stand a chance of an away point? I think we will do better than last season's showings but think will lose by 12

 

 

Not a chance , simple as that .

 

I'd love them to prove me wrong though !

Edited April 19, 2013 by Super Blue

[montie 1,273]

Looking forward to see Ellis tonight,saw him last summer at the EWR and he was brilliant,be interesting to see how he goes

[Roger Jacobs 567]

 

<snip >

(stats courtesy of John Eyre)

 

 

Is this stuff included in the programme?

[lucifer sam 3,960]

 

Is this stuff included in the programme?

 

Nope, John kindly supplies the stats for the Press Releases.

 

All the best

Rob

[Super Blue 616]

Somebody's spilt a can of coke on the track , quick , call it off !

 

Oh , sorry I forgot its not at Ipswich is it ?

 

Please ignore this !

Edited April 19, 2013 by Super Blue

[Jonny the spud 2,281]

Most people will

[Baldyman 6,245]

So cynical lol. Any updates for this?

[Jackal 9]

A huge win here for Scunthorpe is my prediction with Makinens 3 ride duck and most of the Witches struggling. Prove me wrong riders and I will eat humble pie willingly.