Speedway: Glasgow Tigers edge injury-hit Edinburgh Monarchs in Scottish derby

Apr 30 2012 By Fraser Wilson

GLASGOW TIGERS exacted revenge on arch rivals Edinburgh Monarchs in a League Cup meeting which was marred by injuries to two of the visiting riders.

Edinburgh riders Charles Wright and Derek Sneddon required lengthy treatment on the track after slamming into the fence on the first bend with the latter suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Otherwise it was a better day for Glasgow who managed to put the pain of Friday's 61-33 Armadale hammering behind them to defeat the Monarchs 52-41.

Both teams went into this match with no chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition.

Skipper Joe Screen won the opening heat as Tigers started with a 4-2, visiting reserve Charles Wright won heat two but the Tigers reserve pairing split the race for a 3-3. 

Both Monarchs riders gated first in heat three but a great first bend from James Grieves saw his pass both visitors to win the heat.

Glasgow recorded their first 5-1 in heat six when Craig Cook's silencer broke away after he snapped a bracket and was excluded.

But the pivotal moment of the match came in heat eight when both Monarchs gated but Wright lost control on the first bend and rammed into his partner Sneddon which ended with both riders and their bikes crashing heavily into the fence.

After lengthy treatment on the track both riders were withdrawn from the meeting. Derek Sneddon has a dislocated shoulder, and Charles Wright suffered back pains though this is not thought to be serious. 

Glasgow raced to an easy 5-1 in the re-run of the heat putting the visitor 10 points behind.

Edinburgh immediately used Craig Cook as a tactical ride in the next heat which he won but with his partner at the back the advantage was only 6-3.

Grieves and Jade Mudgway raced to an easy 5-1 in heat 11 over a poor visiting No.1 Andrew Tully.

Josh Grajczonek gave Tigers fans a scare in heat 13 with a heavy fall whilst third but got up and walked away seeming unhurt in his only defeat of the night.

Craig Cook then won the last heat in the fastest time of the night - 59.1s - to deny home skipper Screen another maximum.

Tigers strong heat leader trio all scored well with the other four riders chipping with points when required to ease them to victory.

Craig Cook was the best for visitors who unfortunate to lose both Sneddon and Wright who looked good in their opening rides.

Glasgow 52  Joe Screen 14 Mason Campton 6+1 11+1 Jayden O'Malley 2 Josh Grajczonek 9 Jade Mudgway 5+2 Robert Ksiezak 5+4

Edinburgh 41 Andrew Tully 3+2 Derek Sneddon 4  Theo Pijper 8+1 Matthew Wethers 7+2 Craig Cook 12+1  Micky Dyer  2 Charles Wright 5

Next week action see Tigers go to Sheffield on Thursday for League Cup match. Tigers then begin the defence of their Premier League Championship with a home match against Leicester on Sunday at Ashfield with 4pm start.