Sorry about the title, but it's a pretty good description of what I and many other Tigers fans saw yesterday. I'll leave others to get into the acrimonious stuff over on the message board and instead just pick over the bones of the meeting by way of a wee rider rating.
Shane Parker (19) - Anyone who had any doubts about Shane will have been silenced by this performance. The only Tiger on the same level as most of the Edinburgh squad. In fact, he was a level above even them. Peerless and a joy to watch. 5/5
Robert Ksiezak (4) - Not since the match against Berwick has Robert shown anykind of electric form at home. He's just about riding to his average I suppose, but for someone who was expected to kick on from last year, his performances have been consistent, yet disappointing. When Trent dropped out, he really needed to step up, but it never happened. 2/5
Trent Leverington (2) - Battered into the fence on the exit of the 2nd bend by Ryan Fisher, Trent nonetheless went out in the re-run and claimed 2nd. The effects of his bump came round on him later and he had to withdraw. A decisive loss to the side. 3/5 (Purely for going out and being competitive after what was an almighty crash)
Lee Dicken (1) - Not his day at all. Poor out of the gate and apart from a heroic, yet failed chase down of Ryan Fisher in heat 5, he looked a little exposed in the main body of the team. 2/5
Ross Brady (1) - I'm going to reserve judgement on Ross. Yesterday I was muttering all sorts of oaths about him, but yes, he is recovering from yet another bashing about and his bikes did seem to pack up on him in his first two heats. That said, his normally superior gating wasn't much in evidence. He'll need to forget this meeting happened and get on with it. 1/5
Josh Grajczonek (5) - Rode hard all day, took his R/R rides in his stride and never seemed to give up. Could maybe have taken more from seven rides, but I'm being picky. Definitely one of the brighter aspects of the meeting. 4/5
Mitchell Davey (2) - Still very much off the pace, but he's now riding where he needs to be and will look to work his 3 average gradually upwards over the coming months. No heroics expected, just solid riding and a steady dialling in to Ashfield and the other tracks. 2/5
All ratings based on combinations of effort, attitude and points tally from each rider. They are also subjective and open to criticism/abuse/death threats....... ;D
So, will we see more of that? Maybe, but I'm braced for it. It wouldn't surprise me if there was an axe wielded somewhere along the way if results continue in that fashion. Desperately in need of a true 2nd heat leader, and while the new averages (as I understand them) would give us room at the sacrifice of another rider, but it's not quite that easy and 9+ riders don't grow on trees. The promotion will probably want to show a little more faith in their current line-up before doing anything drastic anyway. At the start of the season, many Tigers fans were willing to take a few home defeats if it meant bedding in a new and young team, but not thrashings like those handed out by Birmingham and Edinburgh in the past couple of weeks. I do however think that things will pick up again, and that on their day, the team can do the business. The consistancy will come later............
Anyway, a big thanks to Shane for making it worthwhile hanging on to the end and to Stewart Dickson for telling it like it was at the end of the meeting, quickly dispelling any notion that the team, barring Shane and Josh, had any valid excuse for their under-performance.
Finally, nice to see a decent field of 2nd halfers out. Robert and Lee came out to blow some of the post meeting blues off. Robert on his tod, Lee nipping out to give Gary Beaton, James McBain and Ricky Lee Beecroft (I think) a wee race. Also good to see Dale Lamb out with some other bodies rather than on his own. I'll have the 2nd half photos up later in the week.
Cheers!
Scorecard and more detailed meeting review courtesy of Lioness at the Unofficial Glasgow Speedway site. Check out her excellent photos too.
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