Things started well enough for the Tigers however with two opening 5-1's. the first was courtesy of a flying Joe Screen who won in a time only 0.2 off the track record. The only challenge in the heat was a brief one from Mark Lemon on Michal Rajkowski on the opening bends. Michael dealt with it easily and Tigers had an easy 5-1.
Glasgow new boy David Bellego got his Glasgow career off to a good start in heat 2 with a paid win although he ended up on the deck in the first running of the heat. theo had gated but David was slow to react when the tapes went up and was at the rear. He swept outside Kyle Newman out of the opening bends into third place and at the start of lap 2 looked as if he was about to pass Steve Worrall when Worrall locked up badly and David could not avoid him. Worrall was excluded from the re run which saw Theo again gate and go on to win by a comfortable amount with David equally comfortable in second spot. He was visibly trying a few different lines on the track and did have a fairly big wobble on lap 2 bend 3 but quickly recovered it.
There was the suspicion of anticipation from Nick i heat 3 but the referee allowed the start to go. Stuart Robson challenged Nick for a lap, coming particularly close at the end of the opening lap on the inside line but then Nick pulled clear and won what was a well spread shared heat.
After an excellent gate from Claes Nedermark, James Grieves powered his way through to the front on the opening bends only for Nedermark to cut inside him to regain the lead down the back straight. Nedermark pulled clear on the third lap with the Tigers filling the minor placing's.
There was a moment of panic when Nick Morris suffered bike problems with less than 30 second to go to the start of heat5 but captain Joe Screen reacted very quickly to get his bike out to Nick and allow him to take his place in the race. Nick however struggled with Joe's bike particularly in the early stages and was to retire at the rear on the final lap. The Newcastle pairing had gated and were quickly clear. Nick tried hard to hit back but on lap 3 bend 2 took the decision to move over and let his team mate through in the hope Richard could press. However, it was too late, the Diamonds riders were well clear.
Michal Rajkowski met with the fence on the opening bends of heat 6 after a level gate, his chain also coming off as a result. Michal made a good effort to clear the tracks with Joe out in front but the red lights still came on. In the re run it was Kyle Newman who reacted quickest and led on the opening bends but Joe edged him out on bend 2 and went on to win by a mile.
Glasgow were outgated by the Newcastle pairing in heat 7 with James grieves surprisingly completely missing the gate. David Bellego made a brave move outside Ritchie Worrall on the backstraight of the opening lap to come through into second but Robson was already pulling clear and went on to win the heat. James briefly challenged inside Worrall on lap 2 bend 2 but the visitors were to get the heat advantage.
Michal Rajkowski reared off the start but managed to round Worrall on the opening bends to come through into third. There was a tight battle for the lead on the opening bends with Theo taking Derek Sneddon wide to give himself the advantage coming out of the second bend, the heat quickly becoming well spread.
Again it was the Newcastle pairing who gated in heat 9 with Sweetman in particular being slow off the mark. Nick managed to go outside the Newcastle pairing of Newman and Nedermark out of bend 2 with a little help from the Newcastle riders themselves as they had a brief coming together but both were able to recover quickly. Richard tried very hard to find a way through, coming very close on the inside line of lap 3 bend 2 before trying his trademark move on bend 4 only to have Nedermark block him superbly. it was a good display of team riding from Nedermark in this one as he sat behind and protected Newman in second to hold Sweetman off and ensure a share of the spoils for the visitors.
Newcastle's Worrall was very lucky not to break the tapes as he tried to anticipate the start in the initial running of heat 10, the rerun seeing a level gate with Joe Edging ahead of Stuart Robson out of bend 2 with Michal in third. The heat was quickly well spread and processional and that was how it finished.
Theo Pijper came in to replace James Grieves in heat 11 and although outgated, he powered inside the Diamonds pairing on the backstraight to take the lead. After a poor gate, David was left playing catch up and he certainly didn't lack effort but after being all over Mark Lemon for most of the race he locked badly on lap 3 bend 3 to end his challenge.
There was a little bit controversy in heat 12 when Newman slid off on his own at the rear with Nick out front. As Nick came down the back straight heading to the third bend the red lights came on with Newman making no effort to clear the track and Mr McGregor surprisingly called all four back. Newman nearly didn't make it to tapes in 2 minutes for the re run but when the tapes went up he tried hard to mix it out of the start. the Glasgow pair held however and the heat was quickly well spread, the only change in position being Sneddon passing outside his team mate towards the end of the opening lap.
If the fans were bemused by the all four back decision in heat 12, they were to be gob smacked in heat 13 when Nedermark was allowed back in to the re run after bringing James Grieves down in the first running of the heat. James needed treatment on a hand injury but was able to take his place in the first re run. Mark Lemon got a flier for the visitors but James passed him on the opening bends. It was not to matter however as the race was called back and Lemon warned to stay still a the start. Frustratingly for Glasgow, Joe's bike packed up out of the start in the third and final running and although he got it going again and flew round the track he could not make up for lost ground. James was involved in a good battle with Nedermark as they went down the back straight, muscling his way ahead as they entered bend 3 and going on to win the heat comfortably.
Again Glasgow were outgated in heat 14. A move up the inside by Theo on the opening bends was blocked then on bend 4 of the opening lap Richard went for his trademark wide line. it gave him the grip to power up the outside of Worrall as they crossed the line into lap 2 although it was bend 2 of the second lap before he was finally able to pull ahead. Meantime, Theo spotted his opportunity and came through on the inside of Worrall off bend 2. Theo gave chase to Robson, coming very close on the inside line lap 3 bend 2 but Robson held.
Joe Screen again suffered bike problems at the start of heat 15, barely getting 5 yards out of the start, leaving Nick to do battle on his own. The Newcastle pair were out front and a challenge off bend two from Nick up the inside was thwarted. it was looking bleak for Glasgow with the Diamonds team riding out front to hold Nick off but on the opening bends of lap 4 Mark Lemon inexplicably locked up and slid off out front, Robson taking the lead with Nick in second. Lemon remounted to claim the point for third place and leave Glasgow with a 10 point lead to take into the second leg.
It is fair to say that most would have expected Glasgow to have been more convincing round their own track. After starting like a train we allowed Newcastle to get back into the meeting and you could see their confidence coming back - fair play to them for battling away as a team with only Worrall struggling to compete.
From a Glasgow point of view, we did have some bad fortune with bike problems but a couple of riders were also a little down on their normal form. Again though the team pulled together however and although the lead is nothing like the margin some expected they did still eek out the win. One positive note was the debut of David Bellego. Obviously a bit raw, he is very entertaining and quick although not a gater and it looks, even at this early stage, as if the promotion have made another good signing.
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