Leicester were the only visiting team to win a league match last season so Tigers were looking for revenge while the Lions were looking to get their season back on track after a poor start.
Glasgow 40: Screen 11+1, Grieves 10, Ringwood 6+1, Jacobs 5+1, Wright 3+1, Bager 3+1, Horwood 2+2
Leicester 49: Karlsson 14, Doolan 11+1, Bjerre 7+1, Nieminen 7, Edberg 5+1, Graversen 4+1, Branford 1
Heat 1: Not the best start for the home side when Joe Screen hit bike problems and missed the two minutes allowance. He went off 15m and when the race started it was Henning Bager and Kauko Nieminen who made the start but Henning looked to have problems turning and drifted to the fence. This allowed the Lions to pull clear with Joe moving into third. With the leading two struggling to turn, Joe riding the track aggressively passed Jan Graversen in lap 2 and then passed Nieminen on the back straight of lap 3. Henning also got back into contention but was unable to pass Graversen. 3-3
Heat 2:Leicester’s reserves don’t have the best record at Ashfield but Alex Edberg made a mockery of that by gating and comfortably winning the race. Behind him the two Tiger’s were in second and third but neither looked comfortable and when Harley Horwood made a mistake on the first bend, second lap, Rob Branford was quickly past. 5-7
Heat 3: After some track grading, both Kevin Doolan and Lasse Bjerre gated and with Joey Ringwood a long way behind in third and James being another looking uncomfortable, it was an easy 1-5. Doolan showing how grippy it was by equaling the track record. 6-12
Heat 4: James Grieves made a superb start and was ahead of Karlsson and Edberg; Joe J came close to Edberg by the end but no way past.
9-15
Heat 5: James Wright was lucky not to touch the tapes and even luckier to get a re-run after being left at the start. It was Nieminen who gated and won easily. Behind him Harley and James W were well ahead of Graversen to share the heat.
12-18
Heat 6: Karlsson was quick away with Joe S quickly after him. He was picking up some good drive around the outside but Karlsson was blocking all his moves until Joe seemed to slow on the final lap. Henning finished third ahead of Branford.
15-21
Heat 7: Doolan was away again with James G and Bjerre level down the back straight until Bjerre seemed to leave James no room and he hit the back straight fence. He was OK after a short delay.
Doolan easily won the re-run for another shared heat.
18-24
Heat 8: Tigers were struggling for heat advantages and this looked a likely heat to get back into the match. That’s not the way it turned out with the Lion’s gating and although Bager and Jacobs both passed Edberg, Graversen was long gone. Edberg fell at the back.
21-27
Heat 9: Karlsson became the 5th successive race winner for the Lions with James W second. Joey passed Branford on the second lap for another 3-3
24-30
Heat 10: Finally Tigers get a heat winner with Joe S just getting the better of Bjerre. Bjerre never gave up and kept Joe honest throughout the heat. Doolan was well ahead of Henning at the back
27-33
Heat 11: James G made a forceful first bend causing Nieminen to go wide on the first bend. He then chased after Graversen and passed him on the third bend. Graversen seemed to be put off with this and fell. The race was stopped.
The re-run saw James and Nemo go shoulder to shoulder with the Finn winning but he seemed to impede Harley who fell. He was a bit unlucky not to get an all 3 back.
James finally took the win on the second re-run to giveGlasgowtheir first heat advantage.
30-35
Heat 12: Any thoughts of a late comeback were thwarted with the Lions picking up a 4-2 courtesy of Bjerre and Edberg. It could’ve been worse as Joe J had to pass Edberg for second. James W closed in on Edberg but his final inside burst didn’t come off.
32-39
Heat 13: Tigers needed a big 5-1 but again it was the Lions through Karlsson and Nieminen who gated. Both Tigers got passed Nemo and James got close to Karlsson a couple of times but didnt have the speed to pass.
35-42
Heat 14: Tigers elected not to bring in Joe J and kept faith with Ringwood and Harwood. They both made reasonable starts but the flying Doolan was well ahead by the end. Edberg retired after falling at the back.
38-45
Heat 15: Joe S makes the start but a brave move by Karlsson takes him around the outside and although Joe gives chase he is unable to catch him. Doolan is a comfortable third ahead of James G.
40-49
Leicestertook advantage of Tigers hesitancy about the track in the early heats and the 6 point advantage was one they never looked like losing.Glasgow’s main problem was a lack of heat winners, picking up only 4 whileLeicesterhad 6 separate riders winning a heat. Joe S and James G both competed well, while Joey picked up a good paid 7. Joe J was unlucky not to get more rides for his 5, while Harley probably should’ve scored a couple more. Surprisingly, given their experience, Henning and James W both struggled with the track.
Glasgowcan only hope for some drier conditions in the weeks ahead, as the heavy tracks don’t seem to suit the team, their earlier victories this season being on these drier tracks. Next week againstEdinburghwould be a good one to start !!!
(Report by Derek Watson)