Comfortable Win at the Dale
(Posted 18/08/07)

The scores may have appeared close most of the way through this meeting but in reality Tigers were comfortably in control as they ran out winners at Armadale last night by 8 points.

The opening race was won from the gate by Sneddon and they were on a 5-1 for a while with Tully in second place after he passed inside Watson on the third bend of the opening lap. Wato quickly returned the compliment however. David McAllan spent most of the race on Tully's back wheel but it looked as if he would be unable to find a way through until partner Watson baulked Tully on the final lap and David took full advantage to sweep round the outside into third.

Glasgow have recently struggled in reserve at Armadale but there were no problems for Michael Coles as he won heat 2 from the gate by a considerable margin with Lee in third. Shane Parker followed his example in heat 3 with the battle being for the minor placing's. Parker had made room on the second bend for Ksiezak to come round the outside into second, which Robert duly did. Laukkanen challenged Ksiezak for a couple of laps before the youngster pulled clear to record what was to be the only Tigers 5-1 of the evening.

Trent Leverington led heat 4 for a couple of laps before Wethers passed him at the start of lap 3, the heat being shared with Dicken finishing well ahead of James Cockle, who fell and remounted at the back.

Wato made the gate in heat 5 but was quickly passed by Laukkanen coming out of the second bend, the Fin pulling clear. McAllan passed inside Tully at the same place and held off the Edinburgh youngsters challenge for another shared heat.

Monarchs pairing of Laukkanen and Sneddon got an easy 5-1 from the gate in heat 6, Trent spinning and coming off his bike on the opening bends and accidentally hampering Coles as he did so.

After a tough opening bend with Shane Parker taking Wethers wide, heat 7 finished well spread, Shane winning with Robert third and very little action. David McAllan then won heat 8 by a considerable margin after hitting the front in determined manner coming out of bend 2 although Sneddon blocked Dicken on the opening bends ensuring Lee finished at the rear. Much has been said of the improvement of Sneddon this season especially since he got the captaincy of the Monarchs but his petulant and unsporting behaviour towards David McAllan going down the back straight after the race shows he still has a way to go.

Heat 9 was correctly awarded by the referee with Trent excluded after being forced into making an error by Andrew Tully's pressure. Michael Coles second place however ensured the damage was limited.

Parker missed the gate in heat 10 but Ksiezak repaid his earlier favour by taking Wethers and Sneddon wide on the opening bends giving Shane the opportunity to come through into the lead with Wethers in second. Wethers had been the Tigers greatest threat all night and it was therefore surprising that the close attentions of Robert forced him into the error of going too far wide at the end of the opening lap, allowing Robert through into second. Robert did well to hold Wethers off as long as he did but Wethers tracked him before making a good outside pass coming out of the opening bends of the third lap to ensure second place.

David McAllan hit the front in heat 11 but once again Wethers was the thorn in the Tigers side, driving between McAllan and Watson with what was possibly the pass of the night at the end of the opening lap and going on to win another well spread heat.

Both Tigers made the gate in heat 12 but Coles unfortunately locked on the opening bends allowing Laukkanen through into second. It was an easy win for Parker in a well spread heat that saw Cockle fall and remount again before retiring.

Heat 13 always looked as if it was going to be tough and when Wato was excluded after spinning and coming off on the opening bend, bringing down Trent, the Tigers fans feared the worse. trent had not had the best of nights by his standards so far but pulled a good ride out of the bag when it mattered. He passed Sneddon coming out of the second bend and held him off for most of the rest of the race, pulling clear on the final lap to ensure an important second place, Wethers winning the race easily.

Ksiezak and Coles gated in heat 14 but a slight error by Coles allowed Tully through into second place. Coles did not give up and chased hard but was unable to catch Tully. However, with the heat advantage going to Glasgow it ensured the two points would be heading west. Cockle once again fell whilst at the back this time on the third bend of the opening lap.

David McAllan got a well earned place in heat 15 alongside Shane Parker against the Monarchs top pairing of Wethers and Laukkanen. It looked as if Laukkanen may spoil Shane's maximum when he hit the front but in the way we have become accustomed to, Shane shadowed him for a couple of laps before coming through inside Laukkanen on the back straight of lap three and pulling clear for the victory. All eyes had been on the battle at the front but in the battle for the minor placing's David rode a determined race to finish ahead of the impressive Wethers.

To go to an away meeting and never be behind is a pretty good achievement for any side. When the away team are your local rivals its even better! Tigers always looked in control and although Lee, Craig and perhaps even Trent may be disappointed in their points return, all seven riders again played their part.

It was a good victory and long overdue but it is important now that the Tigers remain focused and weather permitting claim the remaining two points on Sunday.