Scunthorpe Scorpions 60 Sittingbourne Spray-Tex Crusaders 29

TEENAGER Jerran Hart was the star of the show as the Sittingbourne Spray-Tex Crusaders put in a plucky performance up at a rainy Scunthorpe on Sunday.

Kent's only speedway side, who were hammered by the Scorpions – holders of the championship title and runaway leaders again this term – in their last clash, managed to give the North Lincolnshire side their most difficult home match of this campaign.

Leading the way with an excellent five heat wins between them were Hart, the flying Danny Warwick and Mark Baseby.

Baseby recorded hat-trick of wins to firmly set down a marker as one of the Conference League's top young performers. That the inexperienced Hart was able to join in with a sensational win over Scottish international Andrew Tully and finish second in the Crusader's points scoring says much for the promise he is showing.

Despite the 60-29 scoreline, no fewer than seven of the 15 heats were shared three points each. It was only in the decisive handful of races that Scunthorpe were able to pull away.

Crusaders face Plymouth Devils at the Old Gun Site in Iwade, near Sittingbourne, this coming Sunday in their latest Conference clash. The action starts at noon.

Scorers: M Baseby 10; Hart 6; Warwick 5; Felton 5; A Baseby 2; Reynolds 1; Cross 0.