Fortunately, Nick's withdrawal from the meeting appears to have been more of a precautionary measure and barring any problems surfacing overnight, it is expected that he will take his place in the line up for tomorrow night's televised meeting at Newcastle.
On to today's action, and Joe Screen started the meeting as he finished last week - blasting away the opposition for a comfortable win from the tapes. Mark Lemon split the Tigers pairing with Theo finishing in third place in what was a well spread heat.
At the start of heat 2 Nick appeared to try and anticipate the start, was caught out and was pulling back as the tapes went up leaving him squarely at the rear although team mate Michal Rajkowski had shown everyone a clean pair of heels and was quickly well ahead up front. Nick passed Worrall going down the back straight of lap 2 but Worrall repaid the compliment round bend four. However coming out of the opening bend of lap 3, Worrall spun and slid off mid track, Nick was unable to lay his bike down to avoid him and was sent hurtling over the top of the stricken Diamond. Both riders were subsequently withdrawn from the meeting and the race was awarded.
James and Christian both made excellent gates in heat 3, Christian quickly pulling well clear whilst James was left to fend off the close attentions of Stuart Robson. Robson tried an outside blast round the opening bends of the final lap which allowed him to get quite close to James before trying the outside blast round the final two bends of the race. Although he got very close, James managed to hold to ensure a Tigers 5-1.
Again a Tiger won from the gate in heat 4, Josh pulling well clear out of the opening bends. Michal and the Diamonds new signing Matej Ferjan were side by side round the opening bends but it was the Diamond who came into the back straight slightly ahead. the race became a little spread until the final lap when Newman made up significant ground on Rajkowski and tried to go round the outside on the final bends but Michal held
Newcastle brought Mark Lemon out in the Black and White helmet in heat 5 and it was a move that certainly paid off for them. Tigers favourite pantomime villain Derek Sneddon made an excellent gate, Lemon gated in second spot and the Diamonds pairing had what could possibly be one of their most comfortable heat wins this season, Derek slowing considerably on the final lap to allow his partner through for the win.
Joe Screen was again untouchable as he won heat 6 from the tapes. Although Theo had gated alongside his captain, Ferjan took him wide on the opening bends and with Ferjan's team mate Kyle Newman taking full advantage, Theo was sent to the rear. The Newcastle pairing were a little erratic in this race and did appear to get in each others road a couple of times, particularly on the final lap. In addition Newman clattered the fence in the run to the line but was still able to hold on to third spot with Theo trailing at the rear.
Although Josh made a good gate in heat 7, Robson soon put paid to any hopes of a win with a blast round the outside of the opening bends to pass Josh going down the back straight and from then on the heat was well spread with Michal looking off the pace at the back.
Heat 8 was to be a little bizarre for Glasgow. Another superb gate from the Diamonds Derek Sneddon saw him lead from start to finish although, particularly in the early stages, Michal pushed him hard. Theo was in third spot but being pushed all the way by Kyle Newman. It looked as if this would be how the race would finish, Sneddon having pulled clear, but on the final bends Theo appeared to come across Michal. Michal had to shut off to avoid hitting his team mate and Newman showed why it pays to try until the line, taking advantage of the misunderstanding to claim third spot ahead of Michal.
Christian Henry made another quick start in heat 9, wining easily from the gate. James held second spot momentarily but Ferjan passed him coming into the backstraight of the opening lap and that was how the heat was to finish.
Another Joe Screen master class in heat 10 saw him claim another easy win. Tigers had to settle for a share of the spoils however with the Diamonds pairing splitting them and Nedermark, who improved with every race, holding off a late outside challenge from Pijper for third.
Derek Sneddon was warned for moving at the start of heat 11 and the re run had its own moment of controversy. The Glasgow pair gated but Michal had mechanical problems, Lemon going round him on the opening bends before Michal's bike shed a chain entering the back straight. Sneddon had to lay his bike down to avoid him ut the race was allowed to continue, Sneddon re-mounting to complete the four laps for the single point. Josh had once again won the heat with ease, Mark Lemon claiming second spot.
After a gate failure, there was some excellent riding from Christian Henry in heat 12 as he and Michal Rajkowski secured another 5-1 for the Tigers. After gating ahead, Christian settled in behind his Glasgow team mate doing well to hold off Nedermark particularly on the final bends when the Diamond went for the outside drive but Christian cleverly blocked his run to hold on.
More of the Joe Screen show followed in heat 13 but Josh Grajczonek, also having an excellent meeting, showed he was just as capable. Mark Lemon tried to take him wide on the opening bends but Josh powered outside Lemon coming down the back straight in a move similar to last week when he bravely found a gap that didn't even look as if it was there. He quickly put some distance between him and the Newcastle rider and the Tigers had another 5-1.
There was certainly an unusual - and tiring - end to heat 14. James Grieves and Stuart Robson were level going round the opening bends but the impressive Robson came into the backstraight ahead. Newman momentarily joined him up front cutting up the inside of Grieves at the same time but James swept round the outside of the Newcastle reserve on bends 3 and 4. For most of the race Michal was making little impression on Newman but then the unexpected happened on the back straight of the final lap. Newman's bike packed up towards the end of the back straight and he was left to push for home. The Raj coasted past him just as his bike packed in and he too had to jump off and push for home, the extra few yards of coasting being enough to give Michal the third point after some strenuous pushing.
Again Glasgow went into the final heat knowing that victory was theirs but still needing to secure all three points. The race was to probably the best seen so far this season at Ashfield with regards to the minor placing's and was to see Joe Screen's first home heat defeat of 2011. With the Diamonds pairing having gated, Joe and Josh immediately went on the attack, Joe trying the outside line out of the opening bends whilst Josh drove up the inside. Whilst Josh came through into second, Joe ended up at the rear but soon rectified that sweeping round the wide line of the final bends of lap one to pass both Stuart Robson and team mate Josh Grajczonek in one fell swoop. All three were now in close contention, Mark Lemon having pulled clear at the front. At the end of lap 2, Robson tried to go round Josh but Josh blocked him well. Joe looked to be trying to help Josh to hold off the very determined efforts of Robson but it didn't quite work. Coming into the final bends of the race, Josh locked and came off. Joe was momentarily caught out by it but quickly recovered to thwart Stuart Robson's last gasp attempt to beat him to the line.
It was another decent team performance from the Tigers, highs were probably the performances of Joe and Josh but also that of Christian, the lows losing Nick, Theo being a little out of sorts and James still appearing to be down on power. Michal had a very busy afternoon and worked hard with a couple of mechanical gremlins adding to his load.
Glasgow will be hoping that Nick will make it so that we have our full 1-7 for tomorrow evening's televised meeting against a very handy Newcastle side for whom Stuart Robson was impressive.
