Having lost 4 of their last 5 opening home league matches, 2011 being the exception, Tigers were hoping to make a winning start to the 2013 season against aRedcarside which looked solid throughout. The Bears had to make a late change when Ulrich Ostergaard was ruled out due to injury. Kevin Doolan guested in his place.
Glasgow 48: Screen 15, Ringwood 3+1, Wright 7+1, Bager 5+1, Grieves 6, Horwood 8, Jacobs 4+2
Redcar 42: Doolan 8+1, Skidmore 5+2, Summers 4+1, Wilkinson 6+1, Kus 10, Davey 1, Dyer 8+2
Heat 1 Doolan and Hugh Skidmore both made the start with Joe Screen quickly passing Skidmore on the third/fourth bend. He repeated the feat on the next lap to pass Doolan and easily won the heat. 3-3
Heat 2: With everyone expecting the in form Mickey Dyer to win the heat it was a surprise to see him trailing in last. Both Harley Horwood and Joe Jacobs made good starts with former Tiger Mitchell Davey in third and that’s the way it finished. 8-4
Heat 3: James Wright tried to anticipate the start and touched the tapes. Harley came in to replace him but it was Summers and Wilkinson who made the start and although Henning gave chase it was a comfortable 5-1 for the Bears. 9-9
Heat 4: Matej Kus has a poor record at Ashfield but he won this heat well with Dyer slotting into second, James G never troubled them with Joe J at the back. All of a sudden the Bears had turned the meeting in their favour. 10-14
Heat 5: Doolan was first to show with Henning and James W behind him, Skidmore was in touch but never looked like passing James W. 13-17
Heat 6: After a pre race shower, this meant gating was important and on a tricky track, it was Joe S who made the best start, with Joey riding around Kus on the first bend to join him at the front. Kus didn’t look too keen and only just held off Davey who seemed to suffer bike problems early on. 18-18
Heat 7: It looked like Tigers would follow heat 6 with another 5-1 but in the dash down the back straight it was Wilkinson who got the better of James G into the third bend. Harley was well in front and this was the way it stayed. Summers well at the back. 22-20
Heat 8: Bears went back in front when Skidmore and Dyer took an easy 5-1 over Joey and Joe J. 23-25
Heat 9: James W finally made a start and he led from Kus and Henning, who gave chase but didn’t look too comfortable on the outside. Davey again was last. 27-27
Heat 10: Joe S was again first to show with Summers and Wilkinson behind him. Joey who had been baulked when Wilkinson lifted in his path, was gaining with every lap and looked to have passed Wilkinson on the fourth bend of the third lap. However they were level down the home straight and Joey seemed to have passed him into the first but hit a pile of dirt on the outside and came down. The race was awarded. 30-30
Heat 11: James G finally got going and easily won the heat with Doolan and Skidmore following him home. Harley was at the back 33-33
Heat 12:Redcar made a reserve change with Dyer replacing Davey. Many thought Tigers would follow suit but Joe J stayed in the heat. After a ragged start , which the referee allowed, it was James W who showed in front with Joe J behind him. Dyer tried everything in third but it was a welcome 5-1 for the Tigers. 38-34
Heat 13: Kus was first away, with Joe S second, James G had to pass Doolan on the second bend and then fend off an outside run by him on the fourth. Up front Joe was lining up Kus and passed him around the outside of the second bend. 42-36
Heat 14: Looked like Redcar were going to take it to heat 15 for the match when both Bears gated but entering the second lap, Wilkinson’s bike stopped gifting Henning and Harley the 3-3 and a home win. 45-39
Heat 15: With the extra point at stake, James W again was caught out at the start and was penalised. Kus was again quickest from the start but Joe S was not going to lose his full house and went around him on the outside of the 4th bend. Meanwhile James W was gaining on Doolan but lost power on the final lap and stopped giving a final heat 3-3
48-42.
Tigers will rue James W’s tapes offences and Joey’s fall in heat 10, althoughRedcarwill point to Wilkinson’s ef in heat 14, for not picking up the full 3 points. The rain made the track tricky and gating was all important although Joe Screen rolled back the years with some thrilling passes around the fence. The rest were a bit inconsistent but collectively did enough to win, Joe J’s second in heat 12 being decisive.
For the Bears, Kus had his best team match there, while Doolan was a like for like guest. Dyer was slightly disappointing, as was Summers, while Davey will be disappointed not to have scored more on his former track.