Berwick
Preview
Posted 18/03/05
Berwick Bandits come calling on Sunday as
they make their first visit of the season to an away track for what
should be a closer meeting than the corresponding fixture between
the clubs last season.
Berwick were hit a double blow right at the start
of the season with Adam Pietraszko out with appendicitis and new signing
Joachim Kugelmann suffering a back injury in his first meeting. Both
are expected to return this weekend however, starting with Berwick's
home meeting the night before they visit us.
Piotr Dym and Joachim Kugelmann will be making their
first visit to Ashfield. Kugelmann only has one meeting under his
belt this season and he looked very impressive prior to his fall.
It's impossible to tell how he will go on a smaller track however.
Dym on the other hand has started slowly and the noises from the Berwick
faithful are that he will take a little time to settle in. Adrian
Rymel rode very well on his last visit to Ashfield with Berwick, a
performance that had some Tigers fans considering him as an option
for Glasgow in 2005. He will be a very formidable opponent for Shane
and George. The other two returnees from that meeting, Cartwright
and Pietraszko, will feel they have something to prove however as
they were very poor. The young Pole will also be rusty after his time
out through illness and both may struggle. Michal Makovsky has started
the season well and his confidence is high. Final rider Chris Schramm
could cause problems as he rode relatively well at Glasgow for Reading
last year in the main body of the team and has the advantage this
time of being at reserve.
At the time of writing, Glasgow have no injury worries
heading into Sundays meeting. Shane and George both had decent starts
to the season at Ashfield last week and if Matthew can approach anything
like the form he showed last week he will score well. Jamie Birkinshaw
is still on a learning curve and looking at averages you would think
it will be tough for him although with the strides he made in a short
time last week he may well surprise. Paul should be his usual reliable
self although hopefully he wont be as slow a starter as last week.
Trent is up against one of the stronger reserve pairings in the league
and has been a little under par for Trent. Glasgow will again be weakened
by the absence of James Cockle and Gary Beaton will probably only
get the minimum three rides.
Overall, as Berwick have gone for last seasons 'Hull'
approach, George and Shane should score comfortably. It will be a
lot tougher for the three riders in the middle order against Makovsky
but they should be looking to get the better of Pietraszko and Cartwright
both of whom have struggled at Ashfield in recent times. Trent will
have a battle on his hands at reserve.
This should be a lot closer a meeting than recent
Berwick encounters but the Tigers should still be looking at a reasonably
comfortable victory.
Expected team line ups are as follows: -
Glasgow
- George Stancl
- Matthew Wethers
- Jamie Birkinshaw
- Paul Bentley
- Shane Parker
- Gary Beaton
- Trent Leverington
Berwick
- Adrian Rymel
- Adam Pietraszko
- Simon Cartwright
- Michal Makovsky
- Piotr Dym
- Chris Schramm
- Joachim Kugelmann.
