Speedway: Mixed fortunes for Glasgow Tigers as Premier Trophy hopes hang in the balance

Apr 28 2009

Glasgow Tigers

GLASGOW TIGERS exacted revenge on Berwick Bandits with a fine win at Ashfield on Sunday - but their defeat to the same outfit a day earlier has put hopes of a Premier Trophy semi final place in real danger.

The sides had met at the Borderers' Shielfield Park on Saturday evening with the Bandits taking the win, despite Shane Parker's imperious 17 point individual points haul.

Indeed Parker scorched to the fastest time this century and the second fastest time ever round Shielfield Park and dropped only one point in an otherwise immaculate performance.
 
The weekend matches were the first for Tigers without Danish youngster Anders Andersen who suffered a broken leg in a crash in his homeland on Friday evening, the bad news which comes on the back of Ross Brady already being sidelined with a broken wrist - didnt allow much time for Glasgow bosses to try and work out sufficient cover for Andersen.
 
With many suspecting that the weakened Tigers could be susceptible on Sunday, the remaining team members produced the perfect back to the walls response by completely controlling the fate of the meeting right from the off to win out by 55-40.

Providing undoubtedly the biggest performance on Sunday was teenage Aussie Mitchell Davey, pictured, who scorched to a 12 point haul which provided solid back up to the top riders and helped the home side secure another three Premier Trophy points.
 
Tigers scorers V Berwick: Parker 14, Grieves 12, Davey 12, Grajczonek 11, Juul 3, Bugeja 2, McKinna 1
 
Meanwhile Tigers bosses have now secured the signing of 21 year old Swindon based Lee Smart as a replacement for Andersen. Smart, who performed well in last weeks British U21 Final, joins the A-Plant Tigers initially on a 28 day loan period from parent club Birmingham, although both parties will hope to be able to extend this arrangement longer term.
 
The A-Plant Tigers visit Sheffield this Thursday, their penultimate away meeting in the Premier Trophy qualification phase, before hosting the Yorkshire side at Ashfield this Sunday (4pm).