Speedway: Derby day pain for Glasgow Tigers leaves Premier Trophy hopes in tatters

May 19 2009

GLASGOW TIGERS saw their Premier Trophy semi final hopes all but dashed as they fell to a slender defeat against rivals Edinburgh Monarchs at Ashfield on Sunday.

Following the rain postponement of the first leg at Armadale on Friday night, Scotland's two big city speedway clubs were raring to go by the time Sunday's leg came round.

The A-Plant Tigers, already covering for injuries to Ross Brady and Anders Andersen, were forced into further patchwork to the side to face Monarchs following news of a shoulder injury to Peter Juul sustained in his native Denmark on Friday night.

Edinburgh were always expected to take the fight to their Scottish rivals and so it proved as both sides battled it out in the early stages.

Tigers had to rely heavily on their big two of James Grieves and Shane Parker to keep them within touching distance as the Monarchs all round better team strength opened them up a six point lead.

With Mitchell Davey's points scoring fading after his first two rides, and with fellow Aussie Josh Grajczonek having his worst Ashfield meeting of the season, Tigers were simply unable to storm back into this fixture in the manner they managed so often in previous weeks.

The Monarchs were well served by their Pole Michal Rajkowski who contributed 13 points from reserve berth, whilst American Ryan Fisher had some immense battles with James Grieves on his way to racking up 11 points.

Final score Glasgow 44 Edinburgh 46. Glasgow scorers V Edinburgh: Grieves 16, Parker 12, Davey 9, Grajczonek 3, Bekker 2, Branney 2

The result now sees Edinburgh confirmed as Premier Trophy section winners and all but eliminates any slender chances that Glasgow could join them in the semi-final stages of this cup tournament.

Meanwhile, the Tigers management has announced that they are at an advanced stage of contract negotiations with a couple of riders, with a view to making at least two changes before facing Somerset next Sunday in the Knock Out Cup first round where Tigers are only two points behind following the first leg.