Tigers
Lose by Six
Posted
02/05/05
Despite heavy rain after heat 2, the meeting
at Brough went ahead albeit on a difficult surface. All the riders
are to be praised for doing their best to entertain despite the conditions
and some shocking refereeing from Will Hunter.
It started well for Glasgow no 1 George Stancl who
recorded the fastest time of the season for a visiting rider in the
opening heat, coming from behind. James Cockle gated in heat two and
was joined by Trent sweeping round the outside. However both Newcastle
riders were able to pick off James, who looked as though he might
have been having slight machine problems, and the heat was shared.
The heavens opened and racing was stopped. Phil Morris
advised in an interview that Newcastle wanted to race on but that
he had such poor vision he had to rip off his tear off heading to
tapes so it would seem the decision to delay was the right one! It
was good to see both Captains supervising the addition and grading
of extra shale before racing recommenced half an hour later.
After an uneventful shared heat 3, heat 4 showed
just how tricky the surface had become after the downpour. James Grieves
gated and was well clear. Trent came off on the second bend of lap
two and remounted but when Robertson came down at the pits gate a
lap later the referee put on the red stop lights. At this time, Shane
was doing a complete 360 degree turn on the third bend and Grieves
was about to start his final lap. Rather than award the race, the
referee amazingly ordered a re-run with Robertson excluded. The re-run
was to produce the result that should have been awarded.
Bentley was gifted a point in heat 5 after Franc
fell, Stancl wining the heat comfortably from Kristensen. More refereeing
incompetence in heat 6 as Phil Morris locked up and James Cockle had
to lay down to avoid him. Everyone in the stadium bar Mr Hunter expected
Morris to be excluded but instead James Cockle was unfairly excluded
from the rerun, which Shane won to secure a share of the spoils. Grieves
and Tomicek recorded a comprehensive 5-1 over Birkinshaw and Wethers
in heat 7. The tricky surface was having an effect and Henry fell
twice in heat 8. Bentley won the heat comfortably from the front with
Trent looking uncomfortable in third.
Heat 9 saw Captain Shane and James Cockle again pair
up well and record a 5-1 for the Tigers over Franc and Kristensen,
the former in particular looking uncomfortable with the conditions.
After a heat advantage for the Diamonds in an uneventful heat 10,
a tremendous inside pass of Stancl by Tomicek gave the home side another
5-1, Grieves having gated. Stancl fell trying to get back round the
outside of Tomicek but the young Czech was riding what had become
the only real racing line and doing so superbly. Heat 12 had a feel
of 'last man standing' about it. Robertson fell on the first bend
and may have impeded Leverington in doing so causing the Glasgow man
to come off also. Whilst most expected it to be called as all four
back the referee allowed it to go. Cockle led but fell on the final
lap and at this stage the referee put the red lights on and awarded
the race when he could have allowed it to finish naturally.
Morris was the faller in heat 13 and out front Shane
Parker inflicted the only defeat of the night on James Grieves to
give the Tigers a heat advantage. Possibly this could have worked
against Glasgow as it prevented the use of a TR in heat 14. However
given the result of the heat it would not have made any difference.
Cockle came in fro Leverington and claimed second behind Franc who
suddenly found form for the heat win. At the back, Tomicek passed
Wethers for third.
With the meeting out of reach it was important for
the Tigers to keep things as close as possible to keep chances of
the bonus point realistic. A tannoy announcement prior to heat 15
advised that Glasgow had nominated George Stancl and Shane Parker
for heat 15 but that James Cockle would be coming in as a reserve
replacement for Stancl. With Tomicek partnering Grieves for the Diamonds
it meant there were two reserves in heat 15 - something that can't
happen very often. The first running saw the impressive Czech excluded
after he lost control a little and ended up with both wheels across
the white line on the first bend. the re-run saw grieves maintain
his dominance and the heat was shared.
It was a difficult meeting in difficult conditions
but the two main Diamonds of Grieves and Tomicek were just too strong
for Glasgow. The bonus point is still very much up for grabs however
when Sunday's rained off meeting at Ashfield is re-scheduled.
The programmed second half meeting between Boro Bears
and Ashfield Giants was postponed in the interests of safety.
The scorecard and heat details can be found here.
Tiger Performance Points:
| George Stancl |
*** |
Good start, then faded |
| Paul Bentley |
** |
Looked uninterested despite heat win |
| Jamie Birkinshaw |
* |
Could not get to grips with the track |
| Matthew Wethers |
*** |
A little inconsistent but better than of late |
| Shane Parker |
**** |
Led by example |
| James Cockle |
**** |
Worth more than his points total |
| Trent Leverington |
*** |
Tried hard but obviously unhappy with conditions |
