Speedway Report: Sheffield Tigers 52 Scunthorpe Scorpions 38
The Tigers finished off with six consecutive heat advantages to turn things around and then denied their rivals a consolation point in an entertaining derby.
Scunthorpe drew first blood in heat two before Charles Wright and Todd Kurtz sandwiched former Tiger Josh Auty on the opening bends in the next to claim a 5-1 and edge the hosts in front by two.
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Hide AdBut the Scorpions hit back with two maximums of their own to establish a six point lead. Ex Sheffield man Jason Garrity led the first after a super start in the fourth before visiting guest No.1 Richard Lawson barged his way under Wright out of bend four to secure a paid win in the fifth.
But heat-leader duo Kyle Howarth and Lasse Bjerre both bounced back from disappointing last places in their opening rides by taking the chequered flag, leading home a 5-1 and a 4-2 respectively as the scores tied level once again.
The pendulum swung the opposite way once again though as the previously unbeaten Kurtz missed the gate, allowing Stefan Nielsen and Gino Manzares of the visitors the opportunity to pull clear as they moved back in front 26-22.
But a big turning point in the fixture came in heat ten. Jake Allen looked comfortable out front before the Scunthorpe man suffered mechanical gremlins, gifting Howarth and Kurtz a second consecutive 5-1s.
And from there on in, the Tigers kicked on.
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Hide AdBjerre, Wright and Howarth all led home 4-2s before the reigning second tier Champions were able to wrap things up with a race to spare.
Scunthorpe brought Lawson in as a tactical substitute, but to no avail as reserve Jack Smith brought the house down after making a fast start and clamping the opposition down on bend two, allowing Wright to hit the front for another 5-1.
Wright then combined with Howarth in the last for another maximum, sending Scunthorpe back home with nothing to show for their efforts.
Thursday’s Scorers:
Sheffield 52: Charles Wright 14+1, Kyle Howarth 12, Todd Kurtz 10+3, Lasse Bjerre 7, Jack Smith 6+1, James Shanes 3+1, Josh Bates R/R.
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Hide AdScunthorpe 38: Richard Lawson 8+2, Stefan Nielsen 8, Jason Garrity 7, Gino Manzares 5+2, Jake Allen 4, Danny Phillips 3, Josh Auty 3.
Friday’s Teams:
Scunthorpe: TBC, Stefan Nielsen, Josh Auty, Jake Allen, Jason Garrity, Danny Phillips, Gino Manzares.
Sheffield: Kyle Howarth, Todd Kurtz, Charles Wright, Josh Bates R/R, Lasse Bjerre, Jack Smith, James Shanes