Stancl
Maximum as Glasgow Win
Posted 10/04/05
It was widely accepted prior to this
meeting that Glasgow had no chance of the bonus point but after they
started with four 5-1's on the trot, the fans on the terrace were beginning
to hope.
Although both Wilsons surprisingly outgated Stancl
and Wethers in heat 1, George had soon passed Ben and gave chase to
Sean, passing him with a perfectly timed pass on the third/fourth
bend of the first lap. Not to be outdone, Matt then swooped round
the outside of Ben Wilson at the same place on the second lap and
drove on to pass Sean on the backstraight. Top class passing by both
Glasgow men for the 5-1.
Leverington and Cockle both gated well in heat two
and were to lead from start to finish although Legault did try and
pressure James who finished the heat in obvious discomfort from his
ribs. Glasgow got a little luck in heat 3with Ashworth suffering engine
failure and impeding Birkinshaw whilst the heat looked shared. The
referee had no option but to put on the stop lights and call a re-run
without Ashworth and this time the Glasgow pair gated and led from
start to finish with Bentley protecting his team mate on what was
for him an unusual inside line.
It was almost too much to hope for another 5-1 but
thanks to a good ride in heat four from Trent to hold off Andre Compton
that was exactly what happened with Shane well clear. Unfortunately
the run was to come to a shuddering halt as the Wilson pairing outgated
Birkinshaw and Bentley. They team rode for the first two laps but
then pulled clear for an easy win to give Sheffield their only 5-1
of the meeting.
Cooper outgated Stancl in heat 6 but George was all
over the back of him before finally passing on bend four of the third
lap through the smallest of gaps. Meanwhile Compton and Wethers were
doing battle at the back, Matthew finally getting level with the Sheffield
man coming round the final bend but then rearing, allowing Compton
to hold on to third place.
It was obvious once more that James Cockle was struggling
with fitness during heat 7 but he made an excellent gate and as a
result held Ashworth and Hall back, allowing Parker to go well clear
and win from the front. It had been surprising that Sheffield had
not taken advantage of the TR rule so far and it seemed strange that
they chose to do so with Ben Wilson in heat 8 given that he was up
against the very much in form Trent Leverington. The Glasgow pair
gated but Wilson past Wethers on the second bend. Matthew pressured
Ben Wilson for three laps and nearly got by him on the final bend
of the third lap. However Wilson pulled clear, finished an easy second
behind Leverington and the heat was shared.
Bentley and Birkinshaw were first out of the gates
in heat 9 but both were passed on the third/fourth bend of the first
lap by Compton who then pulled clear. It should have been a shared
heat but in an outrageous misjudgment Bentley impeded his team mate
badly on the final bend and Cooper took full advantage to sneak through
into third place. Heat 10 saw Stancl win from the gate with the Sheffield
pairing riding well behind him to hold off Matt Wethers, forcing him
to ride the less effective inside line.
James Cockle again gated well in heat 11 allowing
Parker to pull well clear. James then did a sterling job holding Sean
Wilson at the back for a lap before the Sheffield man got through.
Cockle caught a small rut at the end of the second lap which probably
would not normally have been noticeable but it obviously shuddered
up into his injured ribs and it looked as though he may pull up through
pain. Typically though he kept going to the end of the race.
Hall came in as a TR for Sheffield in heat 12 and
although Birkinshaw outgated him Hall got by him at the end of the
first lap and was not going to be caught. the racing in this heat
was at the back between Leverington and Cooper. On the backstraight
of the final lap Cooper collided with Leverington but both riders
managed to stay upright and finish the race although Trent felt understandably
aggrieved that Cooper was given third and not excluded.
Heat 13 was won easily from the gate with Shane this
time slowing down to allow George to cross the line first to preserve
his maximum. Surprisingly Cockle came out for his fourth ride in heat
14. Ashworth won comfortably from the gate but a good ride by Cockle
thwarted Legault who tried for all four laps to pass him. Bentley
came in at the back.
Shane missed the gate in heat 15 and whilst he managed
to get round Compton on the early bends, Hall held out to split the
Glasgow pair with Stancl winning by a considerable distance.
Overall it was an enjoyable meeting possibly buoyed
by the early five ones giving false hopes for the bonus. Stancl was
very impressive and once again Trent shone. The middle order is still
a worry and it increasingly looks as if the Bentley/Birkinshaw pairing
cannot work with both riders going for the same line. James Cockle
showed yet again the character and attitude that has made him a firm
favourite with Glasgow fans, clearly riding in considerable pain.
Even in the two rides he failed to score he made a valuable contribution
with his gating and blocking. Shane's missed gate in heat 15 probably
cost him his paid maximum but he rode well all afternoon. On the whole
there were more positives than negatives from this meeting and the
team should concentrate on building on this.
The scorecard and heat details can be found here.
Pictures from home meetings can normally be found
on Ian Adams Website
or Lioness'
Webshots Site on a Monday evening
Tiger Performance Points:
| George Stancl |
***** |
Unbeatable all day |
| Matthew Wethers |
** |
Seems to be 'just missing out' a lot |
| Jamie Birkinshaw |
*** |
Again improving, plenty effort |
| Paul Bentley |
* |
Protected team mate one race, impeded the next |
| Shane Parker |
**** |
Rode well |
| James Cockle |
**** |
Tremendous effort all things considered |
| Trent Leverington |
**** |
Continues to impress |
