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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
The Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints and the Buxton Hitmen battled the elements on Friday night at the Eddie Wright Raceway but sadly lost out as the rain kept falling and forced an abandonment of their National League encounter after six races.
Despite the visitors’ Craig Cook winning heat 1 in 58.8 seconds the times soon became a lot slower and racing soon became a lottery. With rider safety paramount referee Darren Hartley called a halt to proceedings with Buxton in the lead 22-14.
Whilst disappointing there was little cause for complaints as most of the racing had been processional after the first two turns. Heat one saw Craig Cook and Lewis Dallaway streak from the tapes to give the Hitmen a 5-1 but Ash Birks and Steve Worrall turned the tables on Dallaway (and partner John MacPhail) in the reserves’ race. One of Buxton’s Australian riders, Robert Branford, produced the only real pass of the night when he went hard underneath Gary Irving into turn three of heat three. It meant he followed Adam Allott home for the second Buxton 5-1 of the night.
The Saints filled the minor positions behind in both of the next two races but a fall for Scott Richardson in heat 4 and an engine failure for Benji Compton in heat 5 meant Buxton extended their lead with two 4-2s. With the track resembling a skating rink Buzz Burrows managed to defeat Nick Morris in heat 6 but with the rain increasing it was the last action as Mr. Hartley was left with no option but to call off the meeting.
With just six heats raced the meeting will have to be re-arranged but as yet no new date has been agreed between the two clubs. The Saints are next in action at the Eddie Wright Raceway next Friday, 6th August (7.30pm start), when the Isle of Wight Islanders are the visitors. Before then, the Premier League Scorpions travel to Newcastle on Sunday, 1st August (start time 6.30pm).
Scunthorpe Speedway Promoter Rob Godfrey: It was a real shame that the weather spoilt things tonight but the referee made the right decision at the right time. No one wants to see a rider injured and there wasn’t the standard of racing we are used to. Everyone went home unscathed and whilst it is always disappointing to have a rain-off it is our first of the season.
Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints 14 – Mark ‘Buzz’ Burrows 4 (2 rides), Gary Beaton 0 (2), Benji Compton 0 (2), Gary Irving 3 (2), Scott Richardson 0 (1), Steve Worrall 2+1 (1), Ashley Birks 5 (2)
Buxton Hitmen 22 – Craig Cook 6 (2), Robert Branford 2+1 (1), Adam Allott 3 (1), Nick Morris 5 (2), Lewis Dallaway 3+2 (3), John MacPhail 3 (3)
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