Real Tigers Win-but Sheffield claim bonus
v Sheffield, Posted 18/07/04

The battle of the Tigers saw Glasgow win todays entertaining meeting but the bonus point unfortunately heads south to Yorkshire with a little help from a dubious refereeing decision from our old friend Mr McGregor!

Glasgow were effectively two men down for this one with no Lee Dicken or Corey Blackman whilst Sheffield have had to compete almost the entire season without influential Sean Wilson.

A heat one win by Compton gave Sheffield the advantage from the start and although Carrillo won heat 2 by almost quarter of a lap, Campbells last place allowed Sheffield to retain the advantage.

Heat 3 went off at the second time of asking and although he had a terrible start Grieves soon recovered to pass Ashworth at the end of the first lap and complete an excellent race with a super pass round Moore on the final bend to claim victory on the line.

Scores were levelled with a 4-2 to Glasgow from the gate in heat 4, a score mirrored in heat 5 when Compton managed to pass Carrillo on the final bend to claim second place behind the impressive looking Grieves.

The third home 4-2 in a row was attained in heat 6 with a collectors piece - a superb outside pass by George Stancl on Stead. With an easy win from Parker in heat 7 followed by a 5-1 from Carrillo and Bentley in heat 8, Sheffield were able to bring Stead in as a TR in heat 9 and the Workington man-wearing 'Guest' on his back! - won it comfortably.

Heat 11 saw some top class hard but fair racing between Parker and Compton with the Sheffield man looking to have the advantage until Parker executed a superb pass at the end of the third lap then powering away to victory.

After that heat 12 seemed a bit of an anti-climax, won by Ashworth from the gate with the resultant 3-3 ensuring Sheffield could not bring in another TR.

Our expectations of controversy from referee McGregor were met with the running of heat 13. Compton in gate 1 was clearly rolling and triggered Stancl who moved forward slightly then stopped to prevent hitting the tapes. The referee let the tapes up, Compton got a flier and Stancl was left at the back. It was a text book unsatisfactory start and it beggars belief that Mr McGregor allowed the race to continue. His incompetance not only ensured the bonus point for Sheffield due to the result of the race but robbed the paying public of what had promised to be one of the best races of the season. Of course there is nothing to say that Sheffield would not have got the bonus point anyhow but it would have been nice to have seen in decided on track rather than by an incompetant individual in a box at the back of the stand.

Glasgows heat 14 pairing of Carrillo and Greives were professional and went out and claimed a 5-1 despite a super effort by Moore and some equally good racing from Carrillo to hold him off.

It looked as if heat 15 was also going to result in a 5-1 for the home team but Compton had other ideas and past grieves towards the end of lap 3.

Overall it was an entertaining meeting with both teams fired up for it and providing good racing. Over both meetings Sheffield did deserve the bonus point but it was a shame they were not allowed to do it without controversial refereeing intervening..

The scorecard and heat details can be found here.

Lioness pictures from this meeting can be found here

Tiger Points:

George Stancl	***	Solid performance - and a pass!
Paul Bentley	**	Still struggling to find form at home
James Grieves	*****	Excellent intelligent riding-yes I said intelligent!
Shane Parker	****	Mr Consistant
Barry Campbell	*	Only point was gifted
Eric Carrillo	****	More good scoring