ALL EYES were on under-fire skipper Magnus Karlsson as Scunthorpe Scorpions rode their final Premier League meeting of the season last night.

He went some way to answering criticism from promoter Rob Godfrey, who had questioned his commitment, by winning each of his opening two rides.

But he then trailed in a poor last in his third outing against a depleted Glasgow Tigers team.

Karlsson was overshadowed by his fellow Swede Viktor Bergstrom who came up with his first paid maximum of the season after battling his way back from injury.

He top scored with 15 points at reserve from six rides as Scunthorpe cruised to a comprehensive 62-30 triumph – their second biggest victory of the season.

They reeled off eight heat maximums against a Scottish side who lost Josh Grajczonek after a heavy crash in his first ride and then star man Joe Screen through illness at the end of heat 11.

The visitors threatened briefly, with a 4-2 success in heat one, to make it another testing night for the Scorpions who were still smarting from their 51-41 home defeat against Sheffield earlier in the week.

But Bergstrom quickly put Scunthorpe back on level terms with victory in heat two and the home side then went from strength to strength.

Tero Aarnio also collected a paid maximum as his successful partnership with Carl Wilkinson blossomed again.

David Howe was beaten only once all night by an opposition rider and was partnered to a 5-1 in heat 10 by young number eight Steven Worrall.

Glasgow twice tried to get themselves back onto the meeting with tactical rides, b8ut with little success.

The first saw Travis McGowan tail in a poor third in heat seven behind Karlsson and Bergstrom.

And when Screen took the black and white helmet in heat 11, it was the determined Bergstrom who tracked him down for four laps before finally pipping him on the line – with Karlsson a distance behind in last place.

He was rewarded for his efforts in heat 15 when it was he, rather than the usual Karlsson, who partnered Howe for a final 5-1 triumph.

The only time Scunthorpe have won bigger at home this season was in their opening league meeting 62-28 against Berwick.

Those early hopes of challenging near the top of the table have long since disappeared.

But performances like last night suggest they might just prove a force to be reckoned with in the end of season Young Shield – if only they can sort out their poor away form.

SCUNTHORPE: David Howe 14, Tero Aarnio 11, Carl Wilkinson 8, Magnus Karlsson 8, Viktor Bergstrom 15, Jan Graversen 4, Steven Worrall 2.

GLASGOW: Joe Screen 8, Nick Morris 6, Travis McGowan 3, Josh Grajczonek 0, Darren Mallett 5, Jake Anderson 8.