Match Report: Glasgow Tigers vs Swindon Robins - 20/05/01 - Premier Knock Out Cup First Round - Second Leg
Glasgow Scorers
Les Collins : 1,2,3,2 = 8
Stuart Swales : 0,0,1,X = 1
Emiliano Sanchez : 2,3,2,3,3 = 13
Mark Courtney : R,1,withdrew injured = 1
James Grieves : 3,3,3,3,1',2' = 15+2
Aiden Collins : 2,1,0,2 = 5
David McAllan : 0,0,1',0,1' = 2+2
Team Manager : Ian Steel
Swindon Scorers
Claus Kristensen : 3,2,2,3,1 = 11
Martin Dixon : 2',FX,2,1' = 5+2
Oliver Allen : 1,2,X = 3
Alan Mogridge : 3,F,FX,3 = 6
Paul Fry : 2,1,3,0 = 6
Mark Steel : 3,3,F,2,0 = 8
Ritchie Hawkins : 1,1',0,1',0 = 3+2
This was basically a challenge match between these two sides, with the aggregate win a
formality for Swindon after their 50 point hammering of Glasgow in Wiltshire. Few in the
crowd anticipated a good meeting but what unfolded was a highly eventful afternoon with
several talking points, if not the greatest racing.
Both sides finished the afternoon with six fit riders, Mark Courtney and Oliver Allen
both being ruled out after separate crashes on the top bend.
Heat 1: Kristensen(59.7) Dixon, L.Collins, Swales. 1-5 - 1-5 - 21-75
Easy win for Claus Kristensen with Martin Dixon keeping Les Collins at bay.
Heat 2: Steel(60.0) A.Collins, Hawkins, McAllan. 2-4 - 3-9 - 23-79
McAllan was momentarily into third place but the wide riding Hawkins managed to push him
back into last place. This 4-2 clinched the tie for Swindon.
Heat 3: Mogridge(60.6) Sanchez, Allen, Courtney (Ret). 2-4 - 5-13 - 25-83
Alan Mogridge off and running. Olli Allen initially held third but a mistake let Emiliano
Sanchez dive past him. Moments later second-placed Mark Courtney ground to a halt to give
the visitors a 4-2.
Heat 4: Grieves(61.2) Fry, Hawkins, McAllan. 3-3 - 8-16 - 28-86
McAllan threw away third place by locking up on the pits bend and letting Hawkins through.
Heat 5: Sanchez(AWARDED) Kristensen, Courtney, Dixon (FX). 4-2 - 12-18 - 32-88
A ragged start which for some reason was not called back by the referee. Sanchez emerged
from the second bend in the lead with the two Robins filling the minor placings. It
remained that way before Dixon, on his own in third place took a tumble on the third bend.
The following Courtney had nowhere to go , clipped the stricken Dixon and hit the fence
awkwardly. Dixon was excluded and Courtney, in some pain, was down for a couple of minutes
before being helped off the track. Dixon, instead of holding his hands up and admitting that
it was his fault disappointingly chose to blame the track for a crash which was entirely of
his own making.
Heat 6: Steel(60.2) L.Collins, Fry, Swales. 2-4 - 14-22 - 34-92
A hugely impressive tapes to flag victory for Mark Steel. Les Collins steamed under the
erratic Paul Fry for second place but couldn't catch Steel.
Heat 7: Grieves(AW) Allen, A.Collins, Mogridge (F). 4-2 - 18-24 - 38-94
An even messier start than two races previously with Aidan Collins almost going into the
tapes. Once again the referee, for reasons best known to himself, chose not to stop it.
Mogridge led until he threw a chain on the fourth turn, gifting the Tigers a 4-2.
Heat 8: Grieves(TS)(61.1) Dixon, Swales, Hawkins. 4-2 - 22-26 - 42-96
Heat 9: Fry(61.3) Sanchez, McAllan, Steel (F). 3-3 - 25-29 - 45-99
A real grandstand finish with Sanchez coming from a long way back to challenge Fry on the
last lap. Sanchez drove off the final bend a length in front but Fry, wide and in the dirt
had just enough speed to edge past again and take the win by inches. Great race. Steel
slid off on the third bend first time around.
Heat 10: L.Collins(61.0) Allen (Exc), Swales (Exc), Mogridge (FX). 3-0 - 28-29 - 48-99
Probably the most eventful race seen at Ashfield since the sport returned to the stadium 2
years ago. Les Collins got around Mogridge to lead down the back straight. Mogridge thendropped it on the fourth
bend with his partner Allen piling into him and somersaulting into the fence. Allen's cut
out snapped and his bike lay on the track revving furiously until the fuel taps were closed
by track staff. It looked nasty but thankfully both Swindon riders were soon on their feet.
Mogridge was excluded and Allen was given some extra time to prepare for the rerun. Both
Tigers gated but Allen slipped past Stuart Swales along the back straight. Swales nudged
Allen going into the third bend sending him crashing painfully into the fence. Swales was
correctly thrown out for this despite what some fans in the main stand seemed to think. We
were now down to two and Swindon rather unwisely chose to use a clearly unfit Allen in the
rerun when they had two reserves available to take his place. Allen was in so much pain
that he had to be helped on with his helmet and his hands had to be placed on the handlebars
before leaving the pits. When the tapes went up Les Collins waltzed off into the distance
with Allen pottering around at a snails pace behind him, barely able to slide the bike on
the turns. After two laps the white exclusion light came on to disqualify Allen for not
making a bona fide effort to race, Allen naughtily ignoring both the exclusion light and
black flag and completing the race. Some sympathy for Allen who was caught up in two
crashes which were not of his doing but some naive team management cost Swindon two points.
Heat 11: Grieves(61.1) Kristensen, Dixon, A.Collins. 3-3 - 31-32 - 51-102
Heat 12: Sanchez(60.8) Steel, Hawkins, McAllan. 3-3 - 34-35 - 54-105
Sanchez bravely around Steel entering the first bend on lap 2.
Heat 13: Kristensen(60.1) L.Collins, Grieves, Fry. 3-3 - 37-38 - 57-108
Kristensen withstood some early pressure from Grieves who gradually fell away.
Heat 14: Mogridge(62.4) A.Collins, McAllan, Hawkins. 3-3 - 40-41 - 60-111
Heat 15: Sanchez(60.6) Grieves, Kristensen, Steel. 5-1 - 45-42 - 65-112
Both home men raced a comfortable 5-1 (Glasgow's only one of the match) to give Tigers a win
on the day, something which had looked highly unlikely early in the meeting.
Thanks to Graham for the match report.
Final Score : Glasgow Tigers : 45(65) Swindon 'Soft Water' Robins : 42(112)
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