Tough
Task on the Island
Posted 26/07/05
Glasgow travel to the Isle of Wight this
evening trying to avoid their third heavy defeat in three days - assuming
the rain that has been falling on the Island this morning stops soon.
In all honesty it looks like a damage limitation exercise
as the Islanders have hit a some excellent form of late, particularly
at home, and are already two points up in the bonus point battle after
taking the points from Ashfield at the begriming of the month.
The Islanders have only lost at home once this season - to
Rye House - and even that was only by a two point margin. their home
victories have been comprehensive including a 63-32 mauling of our
local rivals Edinburgh two weeks ago.
Craig Boyce needs no comment, as everyone knows he is a top
rider and superb round his home track. Fellow heat leader is the Czech
Tomas Suchanek who is in the position as a result of an assessed average.
He has recently got to grips with the track and started posting some
good scores at home. Jensen Marsh and Ostergaard provide excellent
back up to the top two, Marsh having equaled the track record last
week. At reserve they have Jason Doyle, who was unlucky not to score
a paid maximum in Islanders last home meeting against Sheffield and
Glen Phillips. Phillips had a bad start to the season after loosing
out on team places when treated shambolically by Kings Lynn but since
joining the Islanders at the start of June he has developed into a
steady reserve.
The record of the Glasgow riders on the Island is not exactly
impressive. Shane rides the track well but there must surely be some
doubts after suffering two engine failures last night and little time
in which to work on his bikes. The pressure will therefore be on George
to provide the lead but he had an awful time on the Island last season.
It's yet another new track for Stefan, a lot will depend on his bike
set up which appears to be a bit of a problem when getting out of
the gate. Claus rode the track well last season with Berwick and Tigers
need him to do the same again. Adam and James will find it very difficult
against the far more experienced Island reserves. Only James has ridden
the track at PL level before, guesting for Edinburgh in June 2004
and failing to score. Trent's confidence and stamina appear to have
taken a knock recently and a visit to the Island is probably not one
he would want at the moment. However although he had a poor outing
there in his last official meeting with Stoke last season, he did
ride well there earlier in the season so it could go either way for
him.
Overall the aim is respectability but given the recent form
of both teams it seems unlikely that the Tigers can do any more than
try and limit the damage.
