Glasgow fell to a devastating last-heat defeat at Workington tonight – meaning they miss out on second place in the Premier League.
After Somerset bagged a four-point win at Peterborough earlier in the evening, the Tigers needed at least three points at Derwent Park to keep their hopes alive of avoiding the play-off quarter finals and going straight into the semis.
Glasgow found themselves 10 points down after just four heats and put Richard Lawson on a tactical double in heat five. He duly delivered to secure a 6-3 and start the fightback.
However, the Tigers never made any further inroads until heat 10 when the in-form Aaron Summers went round home No 1 Ricky Wells to get a 4-2 with Hynek Stichauer.
Things then looked to be going in Glasgow’s favour from then on as three heat advantages followed, taking the Tigers three ahead with just two heats to go.
But despite having Summers and then top two Richard Lawson and Nick Morris appearing in the last two heats, the Ashfield men fell to 4-2 defeats in both, meaning the Comets won the meeting 47-46.
Although Glasgow took a point, they are still four behind Somerset with only one match to ride – and they can only take a maximum of three from that clash with Rye House – meaning second place is now outwith their grasp.They will, however, face the sixth-placed side over two legs in the quarter-finals, which looks likely to be Ipswich at this stage.
Tigers scorers: Richard Lawson 13+1, Aaron Summers 12, Nick Morris 9+1, Hynek Stichauer 9+1, Victor Palovaara 2, James Sarjeant 1+1, Kauko Nieminen R/R.