Poole Pirates v Scunthorpe Scorpions

SCUNTHORPE are celebrating a sensational Championship KO Cup triumph after lifting the trophy at Poole on Saturday.

The Scorpions took a narrow four-point lead into the second leg and defended superbly to pull off a 45-45 scoreline for their second visit in succession to Wimborne Road – and secure their first silverware for 11 years.

Skipper Simon Lambert gave an immense display, winning his first four rides as he finished on 12 points, whilst former Pirates rider Drew Kemp again haunted his former club with 10+2, and Ryan Douglas signed off for the Scorpions with 9+2 and a major trophy.

Lambert said: “This is an unbelievable feeling. I’m the proudest man in the world right now.

“To be captain and lift that Cup means the world to me. I’ve also had a good night myself. Poole isn’t my favourite track, but it was a big occasion, and I’ve managed to step up to the plate.

“I was making some good starts tonight, while I also came last to first in one race (Heat 8). It wasn’t easy to do that tonight, but I had one of those nights when it was all going right.

“I wanted to win the Cup more than anything. I brought me little boy Kai with me, despite it being a five-hour journey. He’s got a gold medal to wear around his neck on the way home, while I’ve got the Cup and Rob (Godfrey, Scunthorpe promoter) isn’t having it back until March!”

Meanwhile Richard Lawson top scored for the hosts with 10, including three wins, but he was left to rue a costly incident in Heat 10 which had a major bearing on the tie.

Lawson said: “When you are on a 5-1 it is so frustrating, and it always seems to happen that way.

“My cut-out came out and I have never had that happen in my whole career, and it had to happen tonight in a Final. When every point is vital it is just so hard, so hard to swallow.

“We were all so bitterly disappointed after last week and we all wanted to bring this back so much, but we’ve come up short and it’s horrible.”

CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg
POOLE 45: Richard Lawson 10, Ben Cook 8+1, Zach Cook 8, Kyle Newman 8, Steve Worrall 7, Joe Thompson 3+2, Anders Rowe 1.
SCUNTHORPE 45: Simon Lambert 12, Drew Kemp 10+2, Ryan Douglas 9+2, Connor Mountain 7+1, Jake Allen 4+1, Michael Palm Toft 3, Nathan Ablitt 0.
Scunthorpe win 92-88 on aggregate.

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Photo credit: ANTHONY BURCHELL