Plymouth Gladiators v Scunthorpe Scorpions

PLYMOUTH captain Ben Barker raced to a six-ride paid maximum as the Gladiators opened their home campaign with a win over Scunthorpe at the Coliseum.

Barker scored 17+1 in a perfect performance to head up a 51-39 victory, although the Scorpions comfortably progressed to the quarter-finals of the Cab Direct KO Cup having held a 32-point lead going into the meeting.

Dan Thompson also impressed for the hosts with 11+2, whilst former Plymouth rider Kyle Howarth scored 10 for the visitors.

Scorpions manager David Howe said: “It’s job done, since we’re safely through to the cup quarter-finals, after we’d done the hard work in the first leg at Scunthorpe.

“I’m not too disappointed that we didn’t win on the night, because they’ve altered the track this season, and I felt we learnt a lot about it tonight. When we’re back at Plymouth in the league match later in the season, we’ll put that knowledge to use and the boys can ride it smarter.

“It was the first meeting of the season at Plymouth and the track is still bedding in, but I feel it has been improved and it will produce better racing this season.”

Scunthorpe now face Berwick in the quarter-finals, with the first leg to take place at Shielfield Park next Saturday (April 27).