Glasgow Tigers 56, Eastbourne Eagles 33

Eastbourne have suffered a 56-33 defeat tonight (May 17) at Glasgow Tigers.

The home captain and No 1, Craig Cook, hit another maximum score as the Sussex side were unable to contain him or his main back-up, Aaron Summers.

Tigers: Tigers Craig Cook 15 (5), Aaron Summers 13+2 (5), Ben Barker 9+1 (4), Kyle Bickley 8 (5), James Sarjeant 5+1 (4), Paul Starke 4+2 (4), Connor Coles 2+1 (4) – 56.

Eagles: Richard Lawson 10 (6), Lewi Kerr 9+1(5), Edward Kennett 7 (4), Tom Brennan 6+1 (5), Alfie Bowtell 1+1 (4), Ben Morley 0 (3), Georgie Wood 0 (3) – 33.

Kevin reports. The meeting has just ended and now it begins to spit with rain. “There’s timing for you,” he says. He also said how friendly the home fans were to the visitors.

Here is how our live coverage unfolded tonight.

Championship league points are up for grabs tonight as the Eastbourne Fineprint Eagles take on Glasgow at the Tigers’ Ashfield Stadium.

Our man Kevin Ling has gone over the border to bring you heat-by-heat coverage from trackside.

There are no weather worries, he says. The sun has been shining but cloud is building.

While we are waiting for the match to get under way, you may like to read this online article from Brian Owen, published by the Argus. Jon Cook, the Eastbourne Director of Speedway, has some very interesting things to say in this interview.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/speedway/eaglesnews

Today’s Eastbourne Herald (print) has an excellent preview of tomorrow’s match at Arlington Stadium when we take on Glasgow.

You will see we have refreshed our presentation of the heat-by-heat report service with each race report being sponsored by the businesses, organisations and people who sponsor each heat in the Eastbourne programme race card.

And talking of programmes, here is the front cover of tonight’s offering from Glasgow.

Paul Starke is on the cover of tonight’s programme
Kevin Ling’s view of the track and stadium at Glasgow

Teams:

Glasgow: Craig Cook, James Serjeant, Ben Barker, Paul Starke, Aaron Summers, Connor Coles, Kyle Bickley.

Eastbourne: Edward Kennett, Ben Morley, Alfie Bowtell, Lewi Kerr, Richard Lawson, Georgie Wood, Tom Brennan.

Barbara Horley is the referee.

Will Pottinger is in charge of the Fineprint Eagles tonight at the Ashfield Stadium.

The Eagles on their track walk – looks like the temperature has dropped at Glasgow. Don’t worry, Tom is there but out of shot.

Remember to keep refreshing the pages to get the latest information.

You are not alone. Eastbourne fans at Glasgow.

Eastbourne fans tonight at Glasgow. Photo from another Eastbourne fan: Martin Dadswell

Riders are now coming around on the parade.

Former Tiger…now an Eagle: Richard Lawson on the parade.
Alfie Bowtell on parade

Eastbourne will be off 2 and 4 in heat one.

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Heat 1: James Sarjeant touches tapes and is disqualified from heat 1 – Kyle Bickley comes in in blue.

Heat one coming to tapes tonight at Glasgow

Heat one: take two – Cook gates and leads into first bend followed by Bickley  – Edward chasing hard. He kept pressure on Bickley throughout and finally it paid off coming through on his inside out of bend two lap three but there’s no catching Cook – opening 4-2 to Tigers – time 56.59. Already the water bowser is doing a few laps. Bit dusty, says Kevin.

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Heat 2: Bickley away and gone in race two. Connor Coles nosed ahead of the Eagles duo in the first turn. It looks for a time as that’s how it will stay but Tom rounds him on bend two on second lap – Georgie giving good chase but just can’t make it pay – Coles just heading him over the line; 4-2, 8-4 time 57.66

Tom Brennan in action tonight at Glasgow
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Heat 3: Eagles hopes of hitting back with a 5-1 are dashed. It was a great race with a good gate from Alfie  and momentarily he holds the lead. Lewi Kerr then picks up the running from Paul Starke with Alfie fending off Ben Barker down back straight. Barker came through on Alfie’s inside entering second lap – quickly edges past Starke but try though he might he cannot catch the flying Kerr 3-3 11-7 time 58.11

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Heat 4: Another fine race but another destined to go the Tigers’ way by a 4-2  margin – Bickley gets the drop out of the start and Summers eases Richard Lawson wide at first turn. For a time it appears they would take the 5-1 but Richard doesn’t give up the chase – he comes through between the Tigers’ duo quite brilliantly entering lap three . He had Bickley’s number but just could not catch Aaron Summers, though there is little between them by the close; 4-2 15-9, time 58.06

TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MAY 18, it is Eagles v Tigers all over again but this time at Arlington Stadium. The action rolls from 7.30pm.

Ashfield stadium action. Image: Taylor Lanning

Gosh that’s dusty – water down time for heat five.

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Heat 5: Edward hits the front and momentarily the Eagles are on a 5-1 with Ben fast out of the start. However, Barker and Starke in turn find a way past our man as the riders enter lap two. Kennett looked fast out front, however and he banked a comfortable win from Barker with Starke in third; 3-3 18-12 Time 58.55

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Heat 6: For a moment it seemed that Cook might be bettered at Glasgow as Richard cut across him heading into the first turn. For the best part of two laps Lawson held the lead but Cook moved through clinically on his inside heading into the third circuit. Once again Georgie was trying hard and keeping Sarjeant honest throughout but couldn’t quite make it pay on the line; 4-2, 22-14, Time 57.44

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Heat 7: Stopped following an untidy first turn. No riders came down and the Eagles held a 4-2 coming out of turn two but the red lights came on together with the decree all four riders back to the start. Re-run: This time it was Summers who held the advantage as he eased ahead of Kerr down the back straight with Coles heading Bowtell at the same point. It appeared another 4-2 might be on for the Tigers but not so, however ,as Alfie stormed around Coles outside in fine style around the outside on the second lap. Summers continued for his second win, raising his arm as he crossed the line, but the points remained shared 3-3 , 25-17, Time 58.41

Comment from Kevin: Bit more watering precedes heat eight. Not sure if I might have mentioned this but it really is quite dusty.

On the east coast of Scotland: Edinburgh 24, Leicester 18

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Heat 8: The start is frustrated and riders returned to the pits with paramedic not in post. She has now returned from whence I do not know. Heat eight now at tapes. Red lights back on with Bickley’s machine having failed. It looks as if he is upset and is running back to pits but announcement just been made that Coles is in blue. And finally: Yet more great action with passing a-plenty. A fine win for Tom who led throughout. Behind him positions changed time and again. At one point the Eagles held the 5-1 but Sarjeant and Coles, despite Ben Morley’s very best efforts, found a way past; 3-3, 28-20, Time 59.5

TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MAY 18, it is Eagles v Tigers all over again but this time at Arlington Stadium. The action rolls from 7.30pm.

Action from tonight’s meeting at Glasgow. Image: Taylor Lanning
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Heat 9 Ben Barker enjoying the fast outside line and he powered to a convincing win ahead of Richard. Another fine duel ensued between Lawson and Starke with this one going the way of the Eagle. Not so fortunate this time for Georgie who pulled up and out of the race with machinery problems entering lap three, 4-2, 32-22, time 58.03

Thumbs up from Lewi Kerr during tonight’s meeting at Glasgow
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Heat 10: The match looks to be slipping away from the Eagles as Glasgow take a big 5-1 – their first of the night so far. It was another superb race, nevertheless – one that actually saw Craig cook in last place at one point. However, it was not for long as he led the field heading into the third bend. Sarjeant rode superbly to fend off both Lewi and Alfie who each gave their all. A special mention for Bowtell, fourth he may have been but he everything round the outside and deserved some reward for his efforts, 5-1 37-23, Time 57.86

Now that’s what I call track watering
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Heat 11: Tom Brennan in for Ben Morley. Riders finally coming to tapes after the watering.

Heat 11 finally comes to tapes

Ht 11: Summers made his Glasgow knowledge pay once again with a controlled and confident win over Edward. Tom secured a share of the spoils, however, storming inside of Coles out of turn two to bank the 3-3, 40-26, Time 60.07

Lewi Kerr (yellow) and Alfie Bowtell in a battle from the start line.
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Heat 12: DISASTER. Brennan rides again, this time in place of Wood. Something of a tale of woe for the Eagles. It started so well with Tom putting pressure on Barker down the back straight and both Tom and Alfie had the measure of Bickley. As Alfie headed for the outside line, his bike failed him as he entered lap two and he pulled onto the centre green – at that moment Tom reared on turn two and fell (thankfully up and OK) but both Eagles excluded, however. In the re-run: Barker and Bickley fought a duel of their own – the verdict (diplomatically I suspect) going the way of the Tigers’ reserve; 5-0, 45-26, time 59.86

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TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MAY 18, it is Eagles v Tigers all over again but this time at Arlington Stadium. The action rolls from 7.30pm.

Heat 13: Sadly the scoreline continues to make grim reading for Eagles fans as Cook combined with Summers for another Tigers 5-1. Edward is the latest to be stricken with machinery woes as he pulls up down the back straight of lap two – Richard left largely chasing shadows as Glasgow pair each remain unbeaten by an opponent; 5-1, 50-27 time 57.67

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Heat 14: Richard Lawson in as a tac sub. Bickley in place of Coles. At last an Eagles moment to truly celebrate as Kerr and Lawson hit the front in tandem and remain there despite the ever pressing efforts of Starke; 1-5, 51-32, Time 59.39. The comeback is on DOOH!!!

Kevin comments: In my humble opinion this has still been a great meeting, wholly entertaining and all seven Eagles (irrespective of their scores) have given it their all. Glasgow are a very good side and it will take some team to come here and win.

TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MAY 18, it is Eagles v Tigers all over again but this time at Arlington Stadium. The action rolls from 7.30pm.

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Heat 15: Cook (r), Summers (b), Kerr (w), Lawson (y). Glasgow take 1 and 3. Almost predictable I suppose but the Tigers sign off with a 5-1 as Cook completes a 15-point maximum and Summers is also paid for the lot. Lewi Kerr takes the third place with Richard Lawson pulling up on the third lap; 5-1; 56-33; Time 58.51

TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MAY 18, it is Eagles v Tigers all over again but this time at Arlington Stadium. The action rolls from 7.30pm.

Image credits: Kevin Ling, Martin Dadswell and Taylor Lanning