Glasgow 52 Workington 41 (Premier League, Sunday September 7th, 2014)
Glasgow kept their (very) slim play off hopes alive with a win over bogey team Workington in a terrific match. Tigers had Rafal Konopka as a guest while the Comets were at full strength.
For the third time in the league this season Workington opened with a 5-1 with Josh Grajczonek and Ricky Wells taking an easy tapes to flag win over Theo Pijper and Victor Palovaara
It looked like the Comets would take another 5-1 in heat 2 when both Simon Lambert and Joe Jacobs gated. However Kasper Lyyke passed Jacobs down the back straight and got passed Lambert at the end of lap 2, with an inside pass that was dangerously close to being over the line. It looked like a 3-3 but Konopka was looking quick at the back. Going into the last lap, Lambert went wide , almost stopping, while at the same time Konopka was shaping up to pass Jacobs. A quick change of line allowed him to go between the visitors and move into second with Jacobs now third. The 5-1 levelling the score.
Kevin Wolbert easily won heat 3 from Rene Bach with Tero Aarnio passing Mason Campton on the third lap for a 4-2. Tigers swapped their reserves in heat 4 but it was Rusty Harrison who gated with Kyle Howarth and Simon Lambert behind him, although not for long!! Lyyke passing Lambert on the 4th bend after Lambert went far too wide in bend 3. Next time round he made his trade mark inside pass to get ahead of Howarth and Tigers were now 15-9 up.
Another 5-1 was briefly on the cards in the next one until the referee pulled it back. In the re-run, Wolbert just beat Grajczonek to the first bend and despite Josh’s close attentions, he hung on for the win, with Wells taking an easy third from Aarnio
Theo Pijper took heat 6 with Howarth and Jacobs well ahead of Palovaara. Konopka replaced Lyyke in heat 7 and he was unluckily squeezed out by Campton on the first turn after he made a good start, allowing Bach through as well, however Rusty took another heat win.
Theo was well away in heat 8 with Lyyke again missing the start but he swiftly passed Lambert early in the first lap and set after Wells. It seemed as if he had got around him on the third lap second bend, only for Kasper to pick up some unwanted grip causing him to lose control and fall coming out of the corner. No damage was done but he was disqualified and the race awarded 3-3.
It was an easy 5-1 for Glasgow in heat 9 with Wolbert and Aarnio well ahead of Jacobs and Howarth. This took the score to 32-22 and the inevitable TR announced in heat 10!!
Tigers brought Lyyke in for Palovaara, with Bach on the black/white helmet.
Theo made a great start and he moved wide to stop Bach’s charge on the outside. Bach ran out of room and hit the fence. The referee correctly excluding him as Pijper was ahead of him when he fell. The re-run took place after a short interval and Tigers took another 5-1 after Lyyke bravely used the same outside line as heat 8, on the third lap to pass Campton.
Workington swiftly used their second TR with Grajczonek in heat 11 but there was drama before the start with Lyyke being excluded for two minutes despite sitting at the tapes at the time!! He had just beaten the 2 minutes when he lined up but his chain guard wasnt on his machine when the time expired. The two minutes was swiftly put on again for the re-run, not allowing Kasper any time to attach the guard and Tigers probably panicked by this, put Konopka out in his place when borrowed machinery and a 15m handicap for Lyyke would’ve meant Rusty moving to gate 2 (from 1) and therefore outside Gracjzonek. Josh duly made the start, with Wells behind him with Rusty unable to make up any ground in third. The 8-1 now made the score 38-31
Any hopes the Comets had of a late comeback were dealt a blow in heat 12 with another win for Wolbert with Bach second, just holding off Lyyke who had passed Jacobs on the third lap coming out of bend 2, although on the inside this time. Rusty took heat 13 with a brave outside pass of Grajczonek on the opening two bends. Howarth taking third.
Tigers needed a heat advantage in heat 14 for all three points but it was Campton who was first away with Aarnio second, Kasper third with Jacobs at the back with bike problems. Kasper passed his partner at the end of the opening lap but Campton seemed to have an unassailable lead, albeit a diminishing one. Going into the last lap, Kasper brilliantly rounded the Comet, again on the second bend to take the win and all three match points.
Kevin Wolbert looked like he would round the day off with a maximum in heat 15 with another good gate but he lifted alarmingly on the second bend, just staying on, allowing Grajczonek to pass him. At the back Harrison got the better of Wells passing him at the end of the opening lap. The 3-3 giving a final score of 52-41.
Glasgow swiftly got revenge for their defeat the night before at Derwent Park with an easier than expected win over a lopsided Comets side. Four home riders scored double figures with Kevin Wolbert unlucky not to get a full house. Kasper Lyyke provided all the excitement with some great passing manoeuvers inside and out.
Workington relied on former Tiger Grajczonek who was the only visitor to win a race, with Wells backing him up. With them being paired together it left them vulnerable elsewhere in the side and none of the other 5 really looked like winning a race.
Tigers now need an away win (or two) and need to hope results elsewhere go their way to sneak into the top 6, however unlikely that may be!!!
Glasgow: Palovaara 0, Pijper 10, Wolbert 14, Aarnio 4+1, Harrison 11+1, Lyyke 11+2, Konopka(G) 2+1
Workington: Grajczonek 16, Wells 7+3, Bach 5+1, Campton 5, Howarth 4+1, Jacobs 3+1, Lambert 1+1
<Meeting Report by Derek Watson>