Easter
Sunday Blues
Posted
20/03/05
Workington inflicted Glasgow's last home
league defeat of the season last year and repeated that feat by the
same scoreline today in what can only be described as a lack lustre
meeting for the Tigers.
Glasgow were welcoming back James Cockle at reserve,
extra shale had been laid on the track and Workington were expected
to be smarting from last nights heavy defeat at Berwick. Even the
rain which had threatened stayed away and a good meeting was envisaged.
Things started well enough for the Tigers with George
Stancl destroying Stonehewer in the opening heat, although unfortunately
the heat was shared after Matthew suffered bike troubles at the end
of the first lap. Trent gated well in heat 2 and led from start to
finish although again the points were shared when Dart passed Cockle
at the end of the first lap.
Yet again Glasgow lost a 5-1 in heat 3 with the Comets
pairing clocking up an easy win. Wright broke the tapes in heat 4
and was replaced by Dart. Tacey gated but Shane Parker passed round
the outside on the fourth bend of the first lap and with Trent in
third, Glasgow claimed a 4-2. Although Bentley gated well in heat
5, by the second bend only his team mate was behind him and even he
was to pass him at the end of the third lap. The Workington pairing
were unchallenged as they recorded another 5-1 making it five in a
row that the Bentley and Birkinshaw pairing had lost.
Stancl again comfortably won heat 6 but Wethers was
unable to pass the team riding Tacey and Dart.
Heat 7 was to provide one of the best examples of
an experienced rider shepherding a youngster that you are likely to
see but will sadly be remembered more for the manner in which it finished.
Shane and James Cockle both gated well and were 1 and 2 coming out
of the second bend. Shane immediately dropped back to protect the
youngster for almost the entire race in a way that few riders could
have pulled off. He covered every line despite Nieminen's close attentions
and it looked as if a superb 5-1 was on the cards. Unfortunately on
the final bend, James Cockle locked up and the unfortunate Nieminen
could do no more than try and minimise the damage as he hit the youngster.
His quick actions in laying his bike down undoubtedly helped but James
was obviously unable to continue and left the track for a check up
at the local hospital after receiving attention at the track.
It looked as if Wethers and Leverington would triumph
in heat 8 but Wright got the better of Leverington with a good drive
to the line to split the Glasgow pair. A surprising 5-1 in heat 9
followed with Birkinshaw executing an excellent outside line pass
on Tacey at the end of the first lap. It was however a little worrying
how close the Glasgow pairing came to colliding with each other at
the end of the third lap! An engine failure for Stancl whilst comfortably
ahead at the end of the second lap was costly for Tigers in heat 10
and despite Parker trying everything he could he was no match for
Stonehewer in a shared heat 11.
After Leverington was excluded for a second bend
fall in heat 12, Robson and Wright team rode to ensure the visitors
comfortably took the 5-1. Surprisingly Stancl came out on Matthew
Wethers bike for heat 13, due to his spare bike sounding rough when
he was warming it up in the pits. Again Stonehewer was untouchable
although Tacey was off the pace and the points were again shared.
With things looking over, Bentley and Leverington
were to pull a 5-1 out of the bag in heat 14 after an unsatisfactory
start. Leverington came from the back to pass Wright on the second
bend of the first lap, then chasing and sweeping round the outside
of Nieminen on the fourth bend of the third lap.
It was not to be however with the only rider to beat
Stonehewer - George Stancl - coming out on Bentley's bike for heat
15. Stonehewer won the heat and the meeting for the Comets from the
gate despite Shane trying everything he could to challenge him.
Things are certainly not going well for the Tigers
just now, particularly in the early heats. Although it was expected
that we would have to give Birkinshaw time to settle, Banger seems
to be slow starting every week and even Matthew seems to be suffering
a little from this. George being unable to use his second bike for
whatever reason after his first blew was also a major disappointment
as prior to that he had been flying. It is still surprising that none
of the riders are taking to the track after the meeting. On the plus
side, it is good to see Trent so obviously improving every week and
despite Stonehewer getting the better of him Shane is still a class
act.
Although Tacey and Little were disappointing for
Workington today the Comets fully deserved their win. Stonehewer was
in excellent form and received good backing from Robson, Wright and
Nieminen. In particular the team riding capabilities of their middle
order with Wright was obvious.
The scorecard and heat details can be found here.
Pictures from this meeting, courtesy of Lioness,
can normally be found here
the Monday after the meeting.
Tiger Performance Points:
| George Stancl |
*** |
Good start, disappointing having to borrow bikes |
| Matthew Wethers |
** |
Slow start then improved |
| Jamie Birkinshaw |
* |
Showed what he can do in heat 9 |
| Paul Bentley |
** |
Another slow start, good last two rides |
| Shane Parker |
**** |
Superb team riding in heat 7 |
| James Cockle |
* |
Hard to judge but looked very keen |
| Trent Leverington |
*** |
Improving weekly and very determined |
