Speedway: Glasgow Tigers fans celebrate first League Cup points with win over Bandits

Apr 9 2012

GLASGOW TIGERS kick-started their stuttering early-season form with a comprehensive League Cup victory over Berwick Bandits at Ashfield on Sunday.

In a hard fought meeting, in tricky weather conditions, the Tigers defeated the Bandits 56-35, to avenge the loss down at Shieldfield Park 24 hours earlier and secure their first league cup points of the season.

Glasgow opened the meeting with a brilliant 5-1 from skipper Joe Screen and Mason Campton but the score was reversed in heat two as Bandits reserves sped from the tapes for a their own 5-1.

Heat three was the first of a number of classic duals between Bandits skipper Lee Complin and the Tigers top riders - this time James Grieves managing to hold him off for the win.

Ricky Ashworth and Jayden O`malley were sent into the fence in the first running of heat five and both riders walked back to the pits.

O'Malley was withdrawn from the meeting with a hand injury and, although Ashworth came out for the re-run, this was to be his last race as he also withdrew from the meeting with injury.

Glasgow's opening pair Screen and Campton again gated on a 5-1 in heat six and the skipper then attempted to shield his young partner for most of the race but the fast Sebastian Alden managed to split the pair on the last lap.

Alden then inflicted James Grieves only defeat in heat nine but with Edberg falling the race was shared.

Six points separated the sides going into heat 10 which was the race of the night with Screen showing all his track craft to hold off the fast charging Lee Complin who looked to pass on the final bend only to fall and with his partner having retired from the race the Tigers picked up a 5-0.

James Grieves beat the tactical substitute Complin in heat 12 and a 5-1 from Screen and Grajczonek in heat 13 secured Tigers first league cup points of the season.
A solid performance to warm the Glasgow fans' hopes as Screen scored a paid maximum and both Grajczonek and Grieves won three races.

The top three were ably backed up the fast improving Campton and reserve Jade Mudgway who recorded his best score of the season so far against his former side.

The Bandits were well served by the entertaining skipper Lee Complin with back up coming from Sebastian Alden, reserve Lubos Tomicek and ex-Tiger David Bellego.

Glasgow Tigers 56
Joe Screen 14+1 Mason Campton 7+2 James Grieves 11 Jayden O’Malley 0 Josh Grajczonek 13 Jade Mudgway 7+3 Robert Ksiezak 4+2

Berwick Bandits 35
Ricky Ashworth 1 Jason King 1 Lee Complin 10 David Bellego 5+2 Sebastian Alden 8 Alex Edberg 2+1 Lubos Tomicek 8+1

Tigers continue their League Cup campaign next weekend with home and away matches with Workington Comets at Workington on Saturday evening with a 7pm start and the return at Ashfield next Sunday with a 4pm start.