Tigers just picked up the win over a dogged Ipswich side but it was far from convincing, letting slip an 11 point lead at heat 9, to go into a last heat decider 2 up.
Nick Morris and Richard Lawson both had to pass Nico Covatti on the opening bends to secure the win, although Danny King easily won the race.
Tigers had opened up an early 6 point lead with a 5-1 in the reserve race and a fortunate 4-2 in heat four after Hawkins piled into the fence on the third bend, with Rohan Tungate leading. Tigers really should’ve picked up a 5-1 in the re-run but Dimitri Berge almost hit the fence at the same spot as Hawkins, allowing Tungate through.
Tungate then fell in a three man heat 6, after Morris had been excluded and Ipswich had to settle for a 3-2. Tigers further extended their lead with a 4-2 in heat 7 and a heat 9 maximum after David Howe had bravely re-passed Tungate around the outside entering the second lap.
Ipswich then started their fightback, with Covatti taking six points in heat 10 and was involved in a 4-2 in heat 12 to cut the gap to 6.
Heat 13 was superb. Tungate and King made the start but Morris got past King down the back straight of the opening lap. He then tried everything to pass Tungate, almost getting him coming out of the second bend on the final lap before storming around the outside of him on the last bend to split the heat.
The importance of that win was shown when Ipswich took a surprise 5-1 in the penultimate heat to set up that last heat decider.
Glasgow didnt really have any failures, as everyone was paid for at least one win but with the exception of Aaron Summers, everyone posted a zero also. David Howe made a steady start but was let down by poor gating but it was a happier Dimitri Berge with his paid 10 score, his best since the Sky match, his recent practice sessions paying off.
Ipswich will rue their slow start but were value for their point, with Gino Manzares and Nico Covatti both impressive.
Tigers will be hoping for improved performances at home, especially with the next two being cup ties.
Glasgow Tigers 47
Ipswich Witches 45
Premier League
21/6/2015
Glasgow Tigers
Nick Morris 1* Fx 2 3 2 8 + 1
James Sarjeant R/R (2 2 1* 1*) (6+2)
Aaron Summers 1* 3 3 2 9 + 1
David Howe 2 0 1* 2* 0 5 + 2
Richard Lawson 3 3 3 0 1* 10 + 1
Victor Palovaara 3 2 1 0 1 7
Dimitri Berge 2 2* 1 2 1* 0 8 + 2
Mark McIlkenny 0
Ipswich Witches
Danny King 3 2 2 1* 3 11 + 1
Gino Manzares 0 3 1* 3 1* 8 + 2
Nico Covatti 0 2 6^ 3 2* 0 13 + 1
Cameron Heeps R/R (3 F 0 2*) (5+1)
Rohan Tungate 2 F 1 0 2 5
Stefan Nielsen 1 3 F 0 1 3 8
Ritchie Hawkins 0 Fx 0 0
Heat 1 -(re-run) Danny King ; Dimitri Berge ; Nick Morris ; Gino Manzares ; 57.7 (3-3)(3-3)
Heat 2 – Victor Palovaara ; Dimitri Berge ; Stefan Nielsen ; Ritchie Hawkins ; 58.4 (5-1)(8-4)
Heat 3 – Gino Manzares ; David Howe ; Aaron Summers ; Nico Covatti ; 58.9 (3-3)(11-7)
Heat 4 -(2 re-runs)Richard Lawson ; Rohan Tungate ; Dimitri Berge ; Ritchie Hawkins(Fx) ; 58.6 (4-2)(15-9)
Heat 5 – Aaron Summers ; Danny King ; Gino Manzares ; David Howe ; 58.8 (3-3)(18-12)
Heat 6 -(re-run) Stefan Nielsen ; Victor Palovaara ; Nick Morris(Fx) ; Rohan Tungate(F) ; 59.7 (2-3)(20-15)
Heat 7 – Richard Lawson ; Nico Covatti ; Victor Palovaara ; Stefan Nielsen(F) ; 59.4 (4-2)(24-17)
Heat 8 – Gino Manzares ; Dimitri Berge ; David Howe ; Ritchie Hawkins ; 59.0 (3-3)(27-20)
Heat 9 – Aaron Summers ; David Howe ; Rohan Tungate ; Stefan Nielsen ; 59.3 (5-1)(32-21)
Heat 10 – Nico Covatti (TR) ; Nick Morris ; Dimitri Berge ; Rohan Tungate ; 58.3 (3-6)(35-27)
Heat 11 – Richard Lawson ; Danny King ; Gino Manzares ; Victor Palovaara ; 58.3 (3-3)(38-30)
Heat 12 – Nico Covatti ; Aaron Summers ; Stefan Nielsen ; Dimitri Berge ; 59.0 (2-4)(40-34)
Heat 13 -(re-run) Nick Morris ; Rohan Tungate ; Danny King ; Richard Lawson ; 58.9 (3-3)(43-37)
Heat 14 – Stefan Nielsen ; Nico Covatti ; Victor Palovaara ; David Howe ; 59.9 (1-5)(44-42)
Heat 15 – Danny King ; Nick Morris ; Richard Lawson ; Nico Covatti ; 58.0 (3-3)(47-45)