Rain Ends Disappointing Season
Glasgow v Edinburgh, Posted 03/10/04

The season ended on a damp note with Edinburgh not only claiming the Scottish Cup but also the victory on the day, partly thanks to rain stopping racing at heat 12.

Things had looked so different for the Tigers with them being 6 points up after two heats thanks to a heat 1 win from the tapes for Stancl and excellent riding by young James Cockle to hold off Woodward in heat 2 to record a 5-1 behind winner McAllan.

The rain started along with heat 3 when things also started to go wrong mechanically for guest Phil Morris who suffered an engine failure on the second lap. However Bentley had managed to pass Pijper early in the first lap and powered home for an easy win to maintain the advantage.

Schlein was always going to be difficult to beat and having gated in heat 4 he was able to comfortably hold off everything Parker could throw at him and another heat was shared. Schott followed suit in heat 5 after an uncharacteristic error by Bentley on the second bend allowed Schott through.

Heat 6 saw Stancl take victory over Schlein before Cockle came out in heat 7 and rode another excellent technical race this time to hold off the disappointing Pijper. Meantime Parker and Carr were doing battle and the front. Carr had got a flier of a start but Shane reeled him back for three laps before executing a fine pass on the final lap to claim the victory.

A shared heat 8 meant Edinburgh brought in Schlein as a TR in heat 9 and through heavy rain the young Aussie won easily from the tapes.

It was already clear that this meeting was only going to run for 12 heats and with the persistent rain since heat 3 in all honesty it is doubtful if a meeting in these conditions early on in the season would have gone this distance. However the riders were still going out and giving their all as was shown in heat 10 with Stancl and Pijper passing and re-passing each other for the first two laps before the Czech pulled well clear. However lady luck was to play a part and George's first Ef for some time on the third bend was to prove costly, gifting Edinburgh an undeserved 5-1.

Parker was to win heat 11 from the tapes whilst Cockle held second place for 3 laps before Frede Schott was finally able to get past. Unfortunately Woodward was able to get through on the final lap and the heat was shared.

Everyone realised the meeting was now hinging on one heat, heat 12. A rolling start by Carr had the desired effect of unsettling the riders and in the re-start Carr was once again quick away and with Woodward claiming third place it was game over.

The expected announcement of the abandonment dutifully came and Edinburgh, leading the meting for the first time, were winners.

It seems ironic that after his recent performances, an Ef for Stancl could be seen as being decisive or even Grieves injury but that's speedway.

A disappointing end for the Tigers to a season that both Scottish clubs will probably be glad to put behind them, with both having underachieved.

If something good can come out of it hopefully recent performances will help the promotion start team building for next year.

The scorecard and heat details can be found here.

Pictures from this meeting, courtesy of Lioness, can be found here

Tiger Points:

George Stancl	****	Unfortunate engine failure
Trent Leverington	**	Not as strong as expected
Paul Bentley	***	Solid yet again
Phil Morris	**	A bit of an off day
Shane Parker	****	Led by example
James Cockle	***	Another gritty performance
David McAllan	**	Started well but faded