Plymouth bring in Lawson to ride again

PLYMOUTH Gladiators will look to kick on from their superb win over Leicester Lions last week when they welcome Scunthorpe Scorpions to the Coliseum with tapes up at 7pm, writes Stuart James.

Once again, the Gladiators are without Edward Kennett, but they have again been able to pull in a classy replacement with Richard Lawson returning to the Westcountry to ride in Kennett’s continued absence.

Kennett is still awaiting treatment on his major arm injuries caused by damage to an existing metal plate in his arm following a crash at the Coliseum against Poole Pirates on April 5 which required paramedic intervention.

It was in Kennett’s first ever race for the Gladiators that he fell and suffered the injury. He gamely battled on with two third place finishes following before he was forced to withdraw from the meeting.

However, the fall has caused the added problem of very painful new tendon and nerve damage, which is affecting his hand and shoulder.

Kennett’s fellow heat leader, Michael Palm Toft, is also still recovering from injury after he suffered a serious concussion when riding for his premiership cub, Peterborough, on Easter Monday. The Danish sensation has to serve a mandatory nineday concussion protocol before he can be further assessed.

That means tonight’s meeting comes just too soon for Palm Toft, so the Gladiators will again use the rider replacement facility to cover his absence. That worked well last week with Ben Barker, captain Hans Andersen and the promising Dan Gilkes scoring nine points as rider replacements for their team-mate.

The Scorpions have won two and lost two of their four meetings so far this season but, similar to Plymouth, they have a strong septet led by heat leader Ryan Douglas.

Jake Allan rides at five, while Tero Aarnio was in good form last time out scoring 12 points in their 54-36 win over Birmingham Brummies.

Barker will again be looking to lead for the Gladiators after his faultess performance in last week’s win over Leicester.

The Cornishman was in scintillating form as he rode a six-race 18-point maximum and looked unbeatable on home shale.