SCORPIONS INTO CUP FINAL

SCUNTHORPE marched into the Championship KO Cup Final for the first time in five years with a convincing two-legged victory over Redcar.

The Scorpions won 49-41 at the ECCO Arena on Friday to complete a 26-point aggregate triumph and set up a Final clash with holders Poole.

In-form skipper Simon Lambert collected 12+2 for the visitors with Jake Allen notching 9+2 against his former club and Drew Kemp picked up nine, whilst guests Richard Lawson (10+1) and Leon Flint (10) led the way for the injury-hit Bears.

Scorpions manager Dave Peet said: “We didn’t come here to defend an 18-point lead – we went out to extend that lead even further. The lads were desperate to have another crack at Poole in the Cup Final and now they’ve earnt that.

“It was a proper team performance tonight. Dougie (Ryan Douglas) is always so strong away from home, but tonight he had an eventual night, and it was engine room pairing of Simon and Jake at No. 3 and 4 who really shone for us.

“We had the mindset to win tonight – not just on aggregate but the meeting too. We put out a statement of intent that we mean business. Fhe final will be the same – we’ll be out to win both legs against Poole.”

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE