Speedway: Double pain for plucky Glasgow Tigers

Jul 6 2009

James Grieves, Glasgow Tigers

WOUNDED Glasgow Tigers won plenty of plaudits but few points in a tough weekend of racing which brought narrow defeats to Workington and Kings Lynn.

The depleted Glasgow side had to make do without the services of inspirational captain Shane Parker and broken ankle victim Josh Grajczonek for the double header.

In their place the Tigers drafted in Steve Johnston and William Lawson (Berwick) and, perhaps unexpectedly, the patched up Glasgow side managed to hold league leaders Workington to a narrow 48-45 win in Cumbria on Saturday night.

Despite the defeat, under speedway’s new league points system, this encouraging narrow defeat gained Tigers a rare away league point.
 
League favourites Kings Lynn arrived at Ashfield 24 hours later and, although the Tigers didn’t quite have enough in their locker to prevent the visitors from taking all the league points in a 41-49 scoreline, there was plenty to encourage the loyal home support.

In the normal course of events, this meeting would have been a huge task for the Glasgow side given the Stars’ spectacular form this season.

The Tigers were well served by their guest riders, and their own number one James Grieves. But it was the Norfolk-based visitors led by 16-year-old Australian sensation Darcy Ward who eventually overpowered their hosts.

Despite his tender years and having never set eyes on the Ashfield circuit before, Ward equalled Shane Parker’s track record in his opening ride.
 
Tigers scorers v Kings Lynn: Lawson 13, Grieves 10, Johnston 8, Davey 5, Dicken 4, Harrison 1
 
The Tigers next meeting is away to Somerset on Friday evening before returning to Ashfield to face Sheffield next Sunday.

Picture by Ian Adam.