West Cumbrian star Richard Lawson had to settle for runners-up with Poole in the Championship KO Cup final.
The Scunthorpe Scorpions took a narrow four-point lead into the second leg at Poole and defended superbly to pull off a 45-45 scoreline – and secure their first silverware for 11 years.
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 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.”
Another ex-Workington rider Scunthorpe skipper Simon Lambert gave an immense display, winning his first four rides as he finished on 12 points.
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 while I also came last to first in one race (Heat 8). It wasn’t easy to do that but I had one of those nights when it was all going right.
“I wanted to win the Cup more than anything. I brought my 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!”
