So
Near...
Posted 13/03/05, by Casper
In a performance so different from last year,
Tigers pushed Workington close in the first meeting of the new season
and came close to causing an upset.
Workington started with their usual heat win from
Stonehewer although it was disappointing for Glasgow not to get a
share of the spoils after Wethers fell off whilst in third place ahead
of Little. Another 4-2 followed in heat 2 as expected. Robson was
excluded in heat 3 for taking out Birkinshaw although when Nieminen
went from third to first in the re-run Tigers fans were getting a
bit nervous.
Heat 4 proved to be a turning point for the wrong
reasons. Shane Parker had flown from the gate pursued by Tacey who
tried an ambitious move to go under the Glasgow man on the second
bend, spun and came off in a nasty looking fall resulting in a trip
to hospital. Shane won the re-run easily.
Glasgow got a little rub of the green when Nieminen's
engine blew up on the line in heat 5 although few would have expected
Matt to beat Robson for the 5-1.
Heat 6 was excellent entertainment with Parker and
Stonehewer passing and counter passing, Shane coming out on top when
it mattered and was followed by a superb 5-1 from Bentley and Birkinshaw
in an extended heat 7. The start marshall FORGOT to show the chequered
flag at the end of four laps. On the fifth lap, Wright actually took
Birkinshaw down but the referee decreed the race finished after four
and therefore there was no exclusion for Wright. It is to Bentley
and Birkinshaw's credit that this was the only time the impressive
Wright was beaten all night and he was well beaten.
Unfortunately heat 8 saw a 5-1 to the home side and
a relatively untroubled one at that.
Three shared heats followed but it was very disappointing
as Glasgow lost potential 4-2's in both heats 10 and 11 with last
lap passes from Stonehewer and Wright respectively after looking comfortable.
Wright continued his impressive display with a win in heat 12 with
Leverington disappointing at the back meaning Workington drew level.
Stonehewer got his revenge on Parker in heat 13 with
Stancl's third place ensuring a share of the points and the meeting
looking finely balanced going into the last two heats. Unfortunately
for Glasgow however, Wright was to appear in and dominate both heats,
ably backed up by third places for Nieminen and Stonehewer and the
meeting was lost.
If anything, the injury to Tacey worked in the Comets
favour with the highly impressive Wright at reserve - obviously he
will be in the main body of the team after the first declarations
and this will weaken Workington considerably. They were basically
a two man team.
Overall, however, there were a lot of positives for
Glasgow to take from the meeting. There was definitely a good rapport
in the pairings and a determination to succeed. Shane was impressive,
George solid whilst Bentley and Birkinshaw rode well together. Matthew
and Trent in particular will be disappointed but overall for a first
meeting of the season it was encouraging.
The scorecard and heat details can be found here.
Tiger Performance Points:
| George Stancl |
*** |
A solid performance |
| Matthew Wethers |
** |
A little disappointing |
| Jamie Birkinshaw |
*** |
A good start |
| Paul Bentley |
**** |
The usual reliable away performance |
| Shane Parker |
**** |
Top Tiger and good start to improving away ave |
| Gary Beaton |
** |
Tried hard but out of his depth a bit |
| Trent Leverington |
* |
One he will want to put behind him |
