Tigers started their 2013 home campaign with a hard fought victory over Berwick. With Harley Horwood ruled out due to his crash last night and Joe Screen still troubled with his foot injury, Berwick must’ve fancied their chances of an away victory.
That’s the way the early exchanges went with former Tiger David Bellego winning heat one, behind him Joe Screen had settled into second with Joey Ringwood surprisingly ahead of Ricky Ashworth. Unfortunately Joe suffered engine problems and retired. Joey in the end just held off Ashworth. 2-4
Heat 2 saw Nicki Barrett take an easy win with Joe Jacobs and guest Jason Garrity easily beating Alex Edberg. 5-7
Heat 3 finally had a Tigers race winner with James Wright taking a good win over Smith, Henning getting the better of Wethers at the back. 9-9
Heat 4 produced the best race for a long time at Ashfield, Aspegren made the start with James Grieves slotting into second. James got past him down the back straight next time round and they then rode neck and neck for almost the entire race. James tried a cut back on the third and fourth bend of the last lap and came up his inside down the home straight.and got the verdict on the line although to many the Swede won it. Barrett beat Jacobs for third. 12-12
Heat 5 saw Wright making the start but he was passed coming out of the second bend by Ashworth who fended off James’ attempts to pass him. Henning just held off Bellego for third. 15-15
Heat 6 and a great first bend by Joe Screen saw him take out Aspegren allowing Joey into second but a mistake on the first bend second lap saw him fall and he was excluded. Joe won the re-run although didn’t look too comfortable, Aspegren second with Edberg third. 18-18
Heat 7 and a comfortable win for Kozza Smith with James G just holding off Wethers, Garrity tailed off at the back 20-22
Heat 8 saw the Berwick rider’s gate but Barrett made a hash of the first bend and took out his partner Bellego. As seems to be the rule involving team mates, despite it being the Dane’s fault, the faller was excluded. Running no2 was pulled back after the Tigers gated and on the third start it was the Tigers turn to take each other out although Barrett did appear to push Jacobs wide into Joey’s path, who then fell. First bend bunching could’ve been called but the referee decided to take the same decision as the first running and excluded the fallen Joey. At the fourth attempt Barrett won from Joe J to increase Berwick’s lead to 3. 22-25
Heat 9 saw another good start from James W who held off Aspegren with Henning finishing ahead of Edberg who had retired on lap 3. 25-28
Heat 10 saw a great battle between Joe S and Wethers and it looked like Screeny had done enough to win it but in a decision reminiscent of heat 4 the faster finishing Wethers got the verdict on the line. This looked as wrong as the heat 4 decision!!! At the back Smith was well ahead of Joey 28-31.
Heat 11 Ashworth made the start but lost control coming out of the second bend and took a nasty fall. After a short spell in the ambulance he was withdrawn from the meeting.
James G won the re-run from Bellego and Garrity 32-33
Heat 12 and the Berwick manager surprisingly left Edberg in the race, this allowed James W and Garrity (in for the excluded Joe Jacobs) and easy 5-1 over Kozza Smith.
37-34
Heat 13 Tigers all but won the match with another 5-1 from the 2011 Pairs champions Grieves and Screen who team rode for the 4 laps ahead of Aspegren; Barrett appeared in this one but finished last. 42-35
Heat 14 Tigers secured the win with Garrity splitting the Bandits although he had to fend off Wethers for the entire race. Henning seemed to get it all wrong on the first lap and trailed in last. 44-39
Heat 15 with the extra point at stake, Tigers needed a 4-2 but it was Barrett and Smith who picked up the heat advantage to gain a point for the Bandits. James G having to re pass Smith to prevent the 1-5. James W completely missed the start and finished last.
46-43
Tigers probably just deserved to win, with Berwick probably feeling this was one that got away. Ashworth’s fall in heat 11 being the turning point although better use of their reserves may have helped. For the home side, Joe S seemed to be struggling to turn but was unlucky to stop in heat 1 and many thought he had won heat 10 apart from the referee!! Joey had a promising debut on borrowed machinery. A mistake cost him a paid win in heat 6 and he was the victim of a tough first bend in heat 8 and unlucky to be excluded. James Wright had a good home debut only failing to score in heat 15. Henning has had better days and he just couldn’t get out of the start. James G was voted man of the match and was involved in some entertaining races. Jason Garrity filled in well for Harley although he only came alive when the track got slick, a lesson for when Rye House call in cup duty in 2 weeks!!! Finally Joe J had a steady start with a 4 point haul.
All in all an entertaining opening meeting in front of a good sized crowd and a home victory.
Scorers Glasgow: Screen 7+1(4), Ringwood 2(4), Wright 10+1(5), Bager 3+1(4), Grieves 13(5), Garrity 7+1(5), Jacobs 4(3).
Berwick: Ashworth 4(3), Bellego 5(4), Smith 8(5), Wethers 5(4), Aspegren 7(4), Edberg 1+1(4), Barrett 13+1(5)