SCORPIONS INTO GRAND FINAL

SCUNTHORPE are through to the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final after successfully defending their advantage on a tense night at Glasgow.

The Scorpions took a 16-point lead into the semi-final second leg and prevented the Tigers from clawing more than six points back until it was too late.

Josh Pickering won his first three races for the visitors, and he along with reserve Connor Mountain, Michael Palm Toft and guest Jody Scott kept the visitors in the ascendancy throughout.

Pickering overcame Tigers captain Chris Harris in a thrilling Heat 11 and then split the home duo in Heat 13 to take the Scorpions to the brink of progression, with Palm Toft officially wrapping things up in Heat 14.

Scorpions boss David Howe said: “It feels pretty good. It’s been a tense old meeting, and tough on a few of our riders. I feel a bit sorry for Connor because we burnt him out halfway through the meeting!

“The boys did the work at Scunthorpe to be honest, but to keep it so close tonight, I’m really happy.

“We’re not a massive club, and the last Grand Final we made was in 2012. Everybody chips in and works hard, it’s  a very family-run club so to make the Final is special. To be there is amazing, and you never know what can happen.”

Glasgow manager Cami Brown said: “Obviously we are all gutted. The damage was done in the first leg earlier in the month. 

“We tried our best to try and get Scunthorpe on the rack a bit and put some pressure on them. However the Heat 8 5-1 for them killed the tie. 

“I’m still proud of this team. We lost Kyle Howarth with three months still to go and still got this close to reaching a third Grand Final in four seasons. The boys gave it everything tonight. But it always comes down to fine margins in the end.” 

Scunthorpe will now face holders Poole over two legs in the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final.

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Photo credit: LANNONEWS