Clocking in at just under two and a half hours, this was a meeting that seemed as if it would never end. Constant stoppages due to riders crashing (one heat took 3 attempts to run) and a slightly fussy ref (two heats brought back for movement on the line) meant that some punters wouldn't have been home until the back of eight. To be honest, the racing wasn't bad, though there are grumbles about the slick inside/grippy outside lines on the bends. Does it make for boring 'one line' racing? Dunno, there was a fair bit of passing on show on Sunday , and whilst there were maybe only a handful of exceptional heats, the match was taken almost to the last heat. Anyway, won't get into this one, I don't really know enough about it to pontificate too much.
Rye House were minus Tommy Allan and opted for an R/R and had Karlis Ezergalis at No 8 should they have needed him. They also found themselves without Robbie Kessler after two heats due to injury sustained the night before at Berwick. They still have one of the stronger squads in the PL, Neath(6) and Boxall(10) picking up 16 between them, and young hotshots like Tai Woffinden(10) and Adam Roynon(9) more than pulling their weight. A fit robbie Kessler would have been fancied to have taken about 9 or so, making it squeaky bum time for the Tigers come the later heats.
The Tigers did just enough to take the 2 points, though by about heat six it seemed obvious they weren't going to sniff the bonus point. Shane Parker(14) made only one slip in heat five, chasing Chris Neath home in 2nd place. Craig Watsons Glasgow honeymoon continued with a solid 12, taking two wins and and three 2nd places. A fine ride in heat fifteen saw him hold off Boxall round the outside of the 3rd/4th bends and consolidate behind Parker. Lee Dicken finally did what a great many Tigers fans had hoped he would, and start to score big(ish) from reserve. Two thirds, a second, and an excellent tape to tape victory in heat 8 saw the big fella get some payback for his gutsy riding this season. Trent Leverington(6) had, by his standards, a fairly quiet one, picking up two seconds and two thirds. Still, not a bad haul for an off day.......
Robert Ksiezak took his customary five points. It's disappointing not to see him progress as such, but he seems to be consistant at least. A few more points per meeting would be nice.
Michael Coles(3) had another standard issue meeting. Gates quite well, but prone to losing places. If he can hold his track position, he should start to score much better. David McAllan(2)had another meeting to forget. 2nd in heat one was as good as it got. A bit of bad luck with a call back in which he gated well, only to be left at the tail in the re-run. Even worse luck in heat 8 when challenging for 2nd with Roynon. He made an brave old move on the entry to the 1st bend, pushing the Rye House rider out and off. From where I was standing, I couldn't see if there was contact or not, but McAllan was excluded as being the cause of the crash. He's fast alright, but he just needs to hold out for a little more luck.
Lee finding the grip on the outside.
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Robert Ksiezak
Junior rider, 2nd half. If anyone passing through knows the names of these lads, I'd be grateful.
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