CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY OFF FINAL - SCUNTHORPE v POOLE v SCUNTHORPE (2 & 7 October)

[Dickie Head]

My work schedule will allow me to get to both legs, weather permitting. Can Scunny, this season’s surprise outfit, upset the reigning champions? With new averages in operation and assuming both teams are at full strength, I think we could see two home wins with the Pirates taking an aggregate win. 

[Steve Shovlar]

The Grand Final first leg between Scunthorpe and Poole takes place at the Eddie Wright Raceway this coming Friday on the 2nd October, 2026, with the return at Poole on Wednesday 7th October. 

Scunthorpe have defied all the odds and made it through to the Grand Final, making thousands of speedways fans eat humble pie. Written off as bottom of the league wooden spoonists, they have defied the odds and dismissed Glasgow in the semis with relative ease.

Pirates have done what was expected, ending the season and ending top of the league. They saw off Edinburgh winning both legs of the semi final.

Clearly Poole are favourites to win the title but nothing will be taken for granted. No lethargy, no “we only have to turn up to claim our prize”. 

Now obviously the whole speedway fanbase, with the exception of Pirates fans, will be supporting Scunthorpe. There will be no neutrals for these playoffs.

I will put my neck on the line as say Scunthorpe to win their home leg but will come up short against Poole, who have strength in depth.

So what are your thoughts? Will Scunthorpe shock the speedway world and pull off a remarkable title, or will it be Poole all the way?

[eric i]

Can't see Scunny getting anywhere near winning on aggregate. If they have a good night they might win the home leg but they will get hammered at Poole. 

[M.D]

Scunny are going to have to put in an exceptional home performance and then put their gating gloves on in the second leg and defend to stand any chance, cant see that.

[NC86]

The whole country willing Scunthorpe on to beat Poole 

[phillwhitewasmad]

35 minutes ago, NC86 said:

The whole country willing Scunthorpe on to beat Poole 

You sure about that 

[Steve Shovlar]

42 minutes ago, NC86 said:

The whole country willing Scunthorpe on to beat Poole 

I should imagine all Poole fans will not be willing Scunthorpe on.

[Gambo95]

9 hours ago, Steve Shovlar said:

The Grand Final first leg between Scunthorpe and Poole takes place at the Eddie Wright Raceway this coming Friday on the 2nd October, 2026, with the return at Poole on Wednesday 7th October. 

Scunthorpe have defied all the odds and made it through to the Grand Final, making thousands of speedways fans eat humble pie. Written off as bottom of the league wooden spoonists, they have defied the odds and dismissed Glasgow in the semis with relative ease.

Pirates have done what was expected, ending the season and ending top of the league. They saw off Edinburgh winning both legs of the semi final.

Clearly Poole are favourites to win the title but nothing will be taken for granted. No lethargy, no “we only have to turn up to claim our prize”. 

Now obviously the whole speedway fanbase, with the exception of Pirates fans, will be supporting Scunthorpe. There will be no neutrals for these playoffs.

I will put my neck on the line as say Scunthorpe to win their home leg but will come up short against Poole, who have strength in depth.

So what are your thoughts? Will Scunthorpe shock the speedway world and pull off a remarkable title, or will it be Poole all the way?

Its great to see the three unfancied teams (Scunthorpe, Berwick and Plymouth in the finals for a change).

Will probably favour Poole in the final as still a fan of the team finishing top being champions.

[Neila]

13 minutes ago, Steve Shovlar said:

I should imagine all Poole fans will not be willing Scunthorpe on.

That's only a couple of thousand, many more will be routing for scunny 

[Steve Shovlar]

October 1st means change of riding order for Pirates. 

Zach Cook goes to number one for the first time, meaning Richard Lawson probably goes to the number 5 berth. Will Middlo shake things up or leave Will Cairns at number 2 and Cooper Rushen at 4? The Kerr/Rushen partnership is our weakest pairing. Too late to make a change and split them up? Probably. 

Scunthorpe are no pushovers on their track. Riders that don’t travel well can beat heat leaders as they are so dialled in. Ingram at reserve is a real force around the Eddie Wright Raceway, as is young Harrison. The good news for Poole is that Ablitt returns to reserve with Mountain heading back into the team. However, the Ablitt/Ingram partnership at home is still a force to be reckoned with. 

Palm Toft has picked up his form in recent weeks. Hook has come back from an injury so might be a weak link. 

I should imagine Middlo will be heading up to Scunthorpe and will share the team managers berth with Havvy. The riders will be in no doubt what is expected of them. Keep it close, no throwing away silly points. 

Looking forward to heading up for this one.

[Steve Shovlar]

7 minutes ago, Neila said:

That's only a couple of thousand, many more will be routing for scunny 

You mean rooting for, or do you mean selecting the best path for network traffic?

Of course no one would expect anything other than fans from other club supporting the underdog. I doubt there’s many speedway fans out there who are not Poole fans, wanting us to win. Will it have any effect on the outcome? 

Edited 12 hours ago by Steve Shovlar

[Paddy The Rebel]

56 minutes ago, Steve Shovlar said:

October 1st means change of riding order for Pirates. 

Zach Cook goes to number one for the first time, meaning Richard Lawson probably goes to the number 5 berth. Will Middlo shake things up or leave Will Cairns at number 2 and Cooper Rushen at 4? The Kerr/Rushen partnership is our weakest pairing. Too late to make a change and split them up? Probably. 

Scunthorpe are no pushovers on their track. Riders that don’t travel well can beat heat leaders as they are so dialled in. Ingram at reserve is a real force around the Eddie Wright Raceway, as is young Harrison. The good news for Poole is that Ablitt returns to reserve with Mountain heading back into the team. However, the Ablitt/Ingram partnership at home is still a force to be reckoned with. 

Palm Toft has picked up his form in recent weeks. Hook has come back from an injury so might be a weak link. 

I should imagine Middlo will be heading up to Scunthorpe and will share the team managers berth with Havvy. The riders will be in no doubt what is expected of them. Keep it close, no throwing away silly points. 

Looking forward to heading up for this one.

Think you make a good point about the change in order as I agree 3&4 partnership is vulnerable a more balanced look would be 

1 Cook,2 Rushen,3 Kerr,4 Cairns,5 Lawson.

think that looks solid in every partnership,and have felt for a while now the 3&4 partnership has caused a little in balance imo.

[bellevueace]

Think this will be totally one sided Scunthorpe will do no way near enough in the home leg if they actually win it. Second leg a formality.

[Bluekevin]

10 hours ago, Neila said:

That's only a couple of thousand, many more will be routing for scunny 

Does that include the 100 ish that go to wokingten

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

Pirates must be heavy, heavy favourites for this.

Checked the live updates website; Palm Toft, Mountain, Ablitt, Hook and Ingram scored a collective 8 points across 19 rides at Wimborne Road in August. That’s incredible. This could be Pickering and Harrison versus Poole.

It’s remarkable - and a credit to them, I should add - that Scunthorpe are even in the final. An exceptional season from them.

Championship level speedway has delivered, big time, on the entertainment front over the past week, so here’s hoping for more of the same.

[Bitza]

10 hours ago, Paddy The Rebel said:

Think you make a good point about the change in order as I agree 3&4 partnership is vulnerable a more balanced look would be 

1 Cook,2 Rushen,3 Kerr,4 Cairns,5 Lawson.

think that looks solid in every partnership,and have felt for a while now the 3&4 partnership has caused a little in balance imo.

The problem with Poole's 3/4 partnership is that Kerr always wants to lead and scoot off intó the distance, leaving Rushen to fend for himself. Whereas both Lawson & Cooke are happy to ride shotgun.

Having won all 8 bonus points and being over 200 +points (for & against)Poole are clearly favourites. A steady away performance is required, and avoiding the Plymouth scenario.

For me it was Edinburgh and Glasgow who have out performed expectations. I was expecting Berwick/Plymouth/Redcar/Scunthorpe to be in the mix.

Edited 28 minutes ago by Bitza