Scunthorpe Scorpions v Redcar Bears

SCUNTHORPE are back on top of the Cab Direct Championship table after a 53-37 win over Redcar at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

The Scorpions completed the double over the Bears to also take the aggregate point, and they now have an eight-point gap on the teams outside the top four, including their opponents from Friday.

Josh Pickering roared to a 15-point maximum for the home side, including winning a terrific duel with Charles Wright in Heat 13, whilst youngster Luke Harrison won his first three rides to finish with 11.

Wright scored 14 from his six rides for the Bears but they only had three race winners in total, the other coming from former Scorpion Simon Lambert in Heat 8.

Scunthorpe manager David Howe said: “If you look at the scores I think the top five on both sides pretty much matched each other. Josh had another good meeting, but I think our reserves have made the difference.

“Young Ryan (Ingram) had a couple of lasts but three wins as well, so I think that’s been the major difference between the sides.”

Redcar boss Gavin Parr said: “We’ve been competitive all night, we went through a spate of 3-3s and got the 5-1 using the tactical, but they hit us straight back after that.

“I think if we’d got a couple of 3-3s it might have been a bit different, but I’ve really got no complaints about the riders. We’ve been competitive but just not quite there.

“Full credit to Scunthorpe, they’ve been excellent and hats off to them. I don’t think our riders rode particularly badly but Scunthorpe are on the crest of a wave at the moment.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
SCUNTHORPE 53: Josh Pickering 15, Luke Harrison 11, Ryan Ingram 9, Nathan Ablitt 6+1, Connor Mountain 4+2, Dan Gilkes 4+1, Michael Palm Toft 4
REDCAR 37: Charles Wright 14, Jason Edwards 7, Jake Allen 6+1, Jake Mulford 4+2, Simon Lambert 4+1, Jody Scott 2+1, Ace Pijper 0
Scunthorpe win aggregate point

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Photo credit: IAN RISPIN