Glasgow 46 Plymouth 44 Premier League- Sunday 29th June 2014
Plymouth are the only Premier League side who have not beaten the Tigers at home but they came very close today in possibly the best match of the season.
Both sides were operating R/R whilst Rasmus Jensen was missing for the second year running, Devils greatly strengthened by guest Max Fricke.
Tigers got off to a good start with Kevin Wolbert winning heat 1 in his fastest ever time around Ashfield, Ben Barker was second with Kasper Lykke Nielsen taking a couple of laps to pass Kyle Newman.
Lykke followed that up by again missing the start in heat 2 but had passed both Devils by the end of the opening lap. Todd Kurtz taking the win. Zdenek Simota looked quicker by every lap in third. Another 5-1 followed in heat 3 with Theo Pijper winning from the gate whilst Anders Thomsen did it the hard way passing Katajiisto on the opening lap and then riding around Newman on the last lap.
Another heat advantage was on the cards in heat 4 until leader Rusty Harrison seemed to hit a bump going into the second lap and slid off. Tigers were on a 4-2 at the time. The inevitable happened in the re-run with Simota making the start and Fricke eventually passing Kurtz for the 1-5.
Worse followed in heat 5 when both Barker and Simota made the start, Pijper took up the early chasing but was passed by Thomsen who closed up on Simota but couldn’t get near to pass. Suddenly Plymouth were only two down despite looking dead and buried at the end of heat 3.
Tigers needed to respond but it was Fricke who made the best start in heat 6 and the heat was shared. Harrison taking the R/R ride.
With Anders Thomsen withdrawn for the second week in a row, Tigers knew that they would need to rely on their reserves again and Lyyke certainly responded. Harrison easily won heat 7 but Lykke again missed the start. He picked off first Katajiisto and then Newman with inside passes to join his partner for the 5-1.
Heat 8 saw Max Fricke out for R/R and he looked favourite to win but a barnstorming first couple of bends from Lykke passing everyone on the inside saw him lead. Kurtz had slotted into second but Fricke quickly got past him at the third bend but he couldn’t catch Lykke.
Tigers seemed to be in control now and Pijper took the lead in heat 9. However Fricke seemed to be quicker and eventually passed him at the end of the third lap. Behind them Kurtz took third from the poor Benko
Heat 10 looked like a certain home 5-1 as it featured Wolbert and Pijper(R/R) against Newman and Katajiisto who had scored a total of 2 between them. However Katajiisto made a superb gate and was gone, the Tigers slotted in behind but a mistake by Wolbert on the 3rd bend allowed Newman past. Try as he might he couldn’t make up lost ground and the Devils took a surprise 2-4.
The lead was suddenly looking precarious when Plymouth took a 5-1 in heat 11 to come to within two points again. Katajiisto made another lightning start, while behind him Barker and Harrison were swapping positions almost on a lap to lap basis, Barker prevailing.
With the home support getting nervous, heat 12 saw Katajiisto out again and with the dangerous Simota another 1-5 looked on the cards. However Kurtz made the start and blocked off Katajiisto’s run around the outside while Lykke moved into second behind Simota, which is how it finished.
Harrison rode around Fricke on the second bend in heat 13 to lead with Wolbert a close third. With Fricke all over Harrison and Wolbert not far away that’s the way it stood going into lap 3. Fricke tried to go around Harrison on the fourth bend but got too close and almost hit the fence. That allowed Wolbert to pass in the inside but it then looked as if Rusty encountered some problems on the last lap slowing up, as first Wolbert passed him on the back straight and then Fricke on the last two bends for an incredible 4-2.
Tigers knew they could win it in heat 14 and at the second time of asking after Simota moved, Pijper took the win with Lykke getting past Simota on the opening lap. Newman just hung on for second with Lykke all over him for the rest of the race.
With the score 45-39, Glasgow needed a heat advantage for full points but it was Barker who lead off the second bend, with Fricke third behind Pijper. He passed the Tigers captain at the end of lap 2 for the 1-5 and a 46-44 score.
Glasgow 46: Lykke 11+2, Pijper 11, Wolbert 8,Kurtz 7+2, Harrison 6+1, Thomsen 3+1, Henry(R/R, 7+1), MacDonald(no 8) DNR
Plymouth 44: Fricke 14+2, Barker 10+1, Simota 9+1, Katajiisto 6, Newman 5, Benko 0, Roynon(R/R, 7+1)
Both sides will probably feel they should’ve scored more. Glasgow made a great start but seemed to lose their way and feat the repeated later in the match while Plymouth seemed to lose the momentum just as they got themselves into the match. The Devils were certainly helped by Fricke who easily outscored what Jensen would’ve got but it was Katajiisto’s two shock heat wins which ultimately won them the point.
The home side again finished with 5 riders but it was a return to the unpredictable Glasgow with everyone being paid for a win but not enough of them. Strangely only 5 last places, two by Wolbert!!
So Tigers have now won more matches than in 2013 and have already surpassed their league points total for last year but if their unbeaten run is to continue next week they will need 6(or7) fully fit riders, good choice of guest(or guests) and lots of luck!!!
<report by Derek Watson>