Easy Away Win for Tigers
(Posted 17/06/07)

Tigers recorded their first away league win of the season as they comfortably beat Berwick at Shielfield, the final score flattering the home side.

Despite heavy rain to the north and south, Berwick was dry and the track in the best shape I recall seeing it - certainly conducive to passing as David McAllan proved in the opening heat. Whilst Stancl had gated, David found himself at the back but wound in David Meldrum over the opening lap before sweeping round the outside of him on the opening bend of lap 2. Burza was now in his sights and in a well timed move David cut inside him coming out of bend two on the third lap, both Tigers riders finishing well clear of their rivals. It was an excellent start for the Tigers and superb ride from the Buildbase Bomber.

Every now and again you get a strange heat in speedway and heat 2 was one of them. After a level gate, Coles managed to head Meldrum coming out of the second bend, Schramm taking advantage to go round the outside of both riders into the lead and pull well clear. All the action appeared to be between Coles and Meldrum with Coles doing well to hold the Bandit off and just when you thought a second 5-1 was on the cards for the Tigers, Schramm bizarrely crashed into the fence coming off the final bend whilst well clear, Meldrum doing well to lay the bike down and avoid him. Coles claimed the heat win, Schramm was excluded and with Compton having retired earlier it finished 3-2 to Tigers.

The initial running of heat 3 saw Bergstrom drift into Dicken coming out of the gate, the Glasgow man coming down and aggravating his arm injury. The referee correctly called all 4 back, Makovsky on the outside line managing to come out of the second bend ahead of Parker. Shane bided his time and in an exceptional move squeezed through a gap that did not look as if it was there coming out of bend 2 on the final lap to claim the win. Dicken meantime had made sure it was another heat advantage by passing inside Bergstrom on the second lap.

Rempala won heat 4 from the gate, both Bandits riders gating but Trent used the outside line of bend 2 to pass Meldrum. He gave chase on Burza and got close a few times without seriously challenging before a last gasp attempt on the final bends to make up ground saw him drift wide and allow partner Schramm through for second place. Meldrum had fallen at the start of the third lap and retired.

In a meeting that had provided a fair bit of passing so far, the next two heats were from the gate and shared. Makovsky took the honours in a well spread out heat 5 with Burza taking the honours in the next one although there was some interesting action in it courtesy of Michael Coles. His bike appeared to develop problems towards the end of lap 3, slowing dramatically coming into bend 4 allowing Benji Compton to catch right up. Coles then did battle with bike and opponent for a lap, the final bends with leg well spread to try and block the Berwick youngster being a particularly worrying one for the Tigers fans. However, his experience showed and Coles claimed the valuable point.

Despite being sluggish out of the gate, Shane Parker used the outside line of bend two to hit the front and go on to win the race unchallenged. Compton had trundled off the start line and pulled up on the opening lap with what turned out later to be a recurrence of a shoulder injury. It left Lee in third but he did his best to challenge the remaining Bandit, particularly on lap one and on the final bends but to no avail.

Nine points down, Berwick took advantage to bring Makovsky in as a TS in heat 8. David McAllan came out of the second bend ahead and pulled clear, Makovsky at this stage anchored at the back. On the third lap, Meldrum appeared to lock up going into the second bend, it slowed Schramm and Makovsky took advantage to sweep round the outside of both riders into second.

Makovsky and Bergstrom shot from the gate in heat 9 although Trent Leverington was not far off the back wheel of Bergstrom for most of the race. Trent made what at best could be described as an over ambitious attempt to pass inside Bergstrom at the start of the final lap, bringing the Bandit down leaving the referee with no option but to award the race.

Parker won a well spread and shared heat 10 despite missing the gate before David McAllan and George Stancl recorded their second 5-1 of the evening at the expense of Rempala and Meldrum and once again thanks to an excellent inside bend two pass by McAllan. Parker then came out and won heat 12 from the gate, again by a considerable margin.

Heat 13 was to be an excellent race from George Stancl and not just from a racing point of view. Stancl had gated and looked comfortable out front although Leverington was at the back. Trent challenged Rempala and passed inside him at the end of lap 2. Stancl kept looking back and when it was clear Trent was comfortably in third George slowed, visibly cutting back on the throttle coming out of bend 2 and moving in to allow Burza pass round the outside before opening it up again and following him round for second place. It was a piece of great tactical awareness as any heat advantage to Glasgow would have given Berwick the opportunity to bring in a TR in heat 14 where the Tigers are very weak and although the meeting was won there is still the bonus point to play for. Stancl often gets criticised for not being a team man, he answered those critics when he sacrificed the points for the good of the team tonight.

As if to highlight how good a move it had been, Berwick recorded a 5-1 very comfortably from the gate in heat 14.

David McAllan was deservedly given a slot in heat 15, alongside Shane Parker. Unfortunately for David he never recovered from Burza's rearing impeding him on the second bend and finished at the back. Partner Shane once more finished well ahead to complete a perfect maximum.

In all honesty, Glasgow were worth more than their points suggest and its unlikely they will get such an easy meeting again. It would be easy to get carried away. there were a lot of positives tonight but we did still give away some silly points and we have to remember that the opposition appeared to be having a poor night. Wins always give teams a boost however and hopefully Tigers will be able to capitalise on this.

It was a team effort but special mention has to go to Shane - 'that's why we call him the Messiah' - Parker and David McAllan for an excellent display.