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Glasgow Tigers v Workington Comets
Premier Trophy (Group), 27 March 2005
Ashfield Stadium, Glasgow

Glasgow 44
1George Stancl33R1*1* ..82
2Matthew WethersR032. ..50
3Jamie Birkinshaw012*1. ..41
4Paul Bentley1033. ..70
5Shane Parker33222 ..120
6James Cockle0Fx... ..00
7Trent Leverington3111*Fx 2*.82
Workington 46
1Carl Stonehewer23333 ..140
2Kevin Little1*2*00. ..32
3Scott Robson2*1*330 ..92
4Kauko Nieminen3211. ..70
5Shaun Tacey21*10. ..41
6Tony Dart1*00.. ..11
7James Wright2T222* 0.81

* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).

In the match at Glasgow , the Tigers had only four points to pull back against Workington in their quest for the bonus. With James Cockle having served his suspension, he returned to the Glasgow side so both teams were at full strength.

George Stancl and Trent Leverington won the opening two heats but the Comets filled the minor places so both were drawn. Ominously for Glasgow their middle pairing of Birkinshaw and Bentley creaked again as Workington took a 5-1 from Nieminen and Robson to put the Comets four ahead. Parker and Leverington took a 4-2 in heat 4 for a 4-2 to pull back to two down at 11-13. The Bentley/Birkinshaw pairing then conceded another 1-5 in heat 5 to Carl Stonehewer and Kevin Little so Glasgow fell six points behind at 12-18.

Although George Stancl won heat 6 there was no support and the gap remained at six points. Heat 7 looked a certain 5-1 to Glasgow when James Cockle fell on the final bend right in front of Kauko Nieminen who ran into him. The race was awarded to Shane Parker with the minor places again going to Workington to take the score to 18-24. The unfortunate Cockle withdrew from the meeting so for the second week running Glasgow were reduced to one reserve.

At this stage, although they had had five of the seven race winners, four of the Glasgow team had yet to beat an opponent! However things brightened up considerably for them when Matthew Wethers got off the mark in heat 8 by beating James Wright with Trent Leverington keeping Kevin Little at the back for a 4-2 which brought the score back to 22-26. Then the Bentley/Birkinshaw pairing registered a 5-1 ahead of Shaun Tacey and suddenly it was all square at 27-27.

Glasgow looked to be on a roll as George Stancl shot into the lead in heat 10 but an engine failure turned it round Glasgow were behind again when the race was won by Scott Robson from Matthew Wethers with Kauko Nieminen third. The 2-4 put the Comets back in front at 29-31. They stayed in front after heat 11 when Carl Stonehewer beat Shane Parker. Trent Leverington took the third place point though and the 3-3 took the score to 32-34. Trent Leverington fell and was excluded from the rerun of heat 12 as Glasgow went further behind to a 1-5 from Scott Robson and James Wright to lead 33-39 and once again Glasgow were looking for the big finish from Stancl and Parker in heats 13 and 15 for salvation.

It didn’t happen in heat 13, however, as Carl Stonehewer led Shane Parker and George Stancl home for another 3-3 to maintain Workington’s six point advantage. Paul Bentley and Trent Leverigton kept Glasgow’s hopes alive by winning heat 14 5-1 which set things up for a last heat decider with the score at 41-43. Stancl and Parker were out again for Glasgow as expected but it was Carl Stonehewer who saw both of them off to grab all three points for the Comets.

Match Report by Merlin