Gladiators overcome Scorpians

PLYMOUTH Gladiators were left wondering what could have been as they allowed Scunthorpe back into the meeting and sacrificed a point in their 48-42 win at the Coliseum on Tuesday.

Garry May’s men started from where they left off as they stormed into a 37-23 lead after ten heats before the Scorpions produced an impressive late fightback by winning four of the last five heats to reduce the winning margin to just six points and claim a losing bonus point.

May insists he was happy with the performance of his side, but he must have been frustrated that victory was not by a bigger margin when a second successive comfortable win looked on the cards after heat ten.

“It was close again, they hit us at the end with that 5-1 in heat 14 and then we just didn’t make the gate in the last race, but it was a good match,” May said. “We got the three points, they took a point off us, but we will go up there on Friday and see if we can return the favour.

“I thought it was good tonight, everyone went well and the track was good. Scunthorpe had Ryan Douglas that kept them in the meeting and then Tero Aanio had a good one, but it was a really good meeting and exciting to watch.

“They have come back at the end and have taken a point, so we have to go up there and do the same.”

The Gladiators head to Scunthorpe on Friday where they will be boosted by the return of Michael Palm Toft, who missed Tuesday’s meeting as it fell within his mandatory nine-day absence after suffering a concussion.

“We also have Richard Lawson coming in as a guest for Eddie (Kennett) so we are going up there to put entertainment on,” May said.