Tigers
Win Away
by
Casper Posted 10/07/05
After threatening to record a win at Stoke
on the last few encounters, Glasgow finally did it, coming away with
the points after an entertaining meeting.
Visits to Stoke are always enjoyable with both sets
of fans getting on very well but the Stoke promotion tried their best
to sour the victory by denying the Tigers a victory parade - it didn't
work, we were still happy!
Stoke had Peter Carr back at number 1 and surprisingly
chose Phil Morris as guest at number 5. Glasgow were at their new
full strength but James Cockle was suffering from the after effects
of a heavy fall at Weymouth on the previous night which has caused
possible shoulder damage.
Carr came out in the first heat and won it comfortably
after his customary flier from the gate with one of the fastest times
of the season. With Kessler settling in third place it gave Stoke
the opening advantage but one that was not to last for long when,
even to the Tigers fans surprise to be honest, our reserves came out
and recorded a 1-5 in the second heat, Roynon winning by a comfortable
margin.
Ekberg followed Peter Carr's tactics in heat 3, what's
good enough for one is good enough for another, as he got a flier
and won the heat comfortably. Unfortunately Kristensen was off the
pace at the back however and the heat was shared, as was heat 4 with
Parker claiming the win.
Heat 5 saw George continue the excellent form he
has been in with a classy victory. Trent recorded his first point
of the night with third place having been passed by Clews.
It looked as if Peter Carr would repeat his heat
1 victory in heat six after Shane Parker missed the start but Shane
battled hard and after an entertaining battle with Carr, Shane past
him and claimed the win.
Stefan Ekberg again came out and recorded a win in
heat 7, every race he rides makes the Tigers fans feel more and more
that we now have a genuine third heat leader in the team.
After a slow start, Trent found his form in heat
8, with Kessler in second and Hargreaves third.
Heat 9 provided a little controversy with the way
in which an incident was interpreted depending on whether you were
a Tiger or a Potter. Mogridge won the heat comfortably, the battle
was between Clews and Parker for second. Both riders were riding hard
but fair, Parker had come up the inside of Clews to take the advantage.
However on the third lap, Clews drifted back across him and with his
wheel lifting looked a little out of control. Glasgow fans felt Shane
had to cut off to avoid Clews and was therefore impeded but Stoke
fans and, more importantly, the referee called it differently and
Stoke gained a controversial 5-1 to pull them right back into the
meeting.
Kessler inflicted Stefan's first defeat of the night
on him in heat 10, with the main battle being between Stefan and Peter
Carr for second place. The Swede showed good tactical awareness to
come out on top. However with Kristensen again at the back Stoke got
the heat advantage to tie the score.
Stancl and Leverington came out in heat 11 and restored
Tigers lead with good riding leading to a 1-5 in the tigers favour
with Trent doing well to hold off Morris. A shared heat 12 followed,
Ekberg claiming his third victory of the night and Glasgow were four
points up.
Shane Parker came out and won heat 13 but it was
a superb piece of tactical awareness from George Stancl that was the
main talking point, something that annoyed the Potters. George was
lying second to Shane and had the race finished that way it would
have given Glasgow an 8 point lead and the opportunity to make a GDTS
in heat 14 where Glasgow were looking weak. George therefore slowed,
allowing Morris through, to keep Tigers lead to just 6 points.
It was shown to be justified as Stoke recorded a
5-1 in heat 14 with Alan Mogridge shepherding Stoke reserve Hargreaves
round. Cockle slid off whilst in third place allowing Kristensen to
claim the single point.
Yet again it was all down to a last heat decider.
With Ekberg in excellent form, he was chosen to partner Shane in the
final heat and it was to be an important decision. Despite coming
last, Ekberg gated from gate 2 and moved everyone out, allowing his
partner to cut up the inside into the lead and there was no chance
anyone was going to catch Shane.
Once again the meeting at Stoke was entertaining
and provided some good racing. It was in the main a good team effort
from the Tigers that won the meeting. Ekberg Parker and Stancl shone,
Trent started slowly but finished well whilst the reserves rode better
than their points suggested.
It seemed petty to deny the tigers their victory
parade but it did not change the score as Tigers recorded their first
away league victory for two years.
The scorecard and heat details will follow.
Tiger Performance Points:
| George Stancl |
**** |
another good performance |
| Trent Leverington |
*** |
came good |
| Stefan Ekberg |
**** |
excellent |
| Claus Kristensen |
* |
least said the better |
| Shane Parker |
**** |
predictably good |
| Adam Roynon |
*** |
unlucky not to score more |
| James Cockle |
*** |
also unlucky and riding with shoulder injury |
