Plymouth Gladiators v Glasgow Tigers

Report

GLASGOW made a winning start to the Cab Direct Championship campaign as they came from six points down to pull off a 50-40 victory at Plymouth.

The Tigers were without Kyle Howarth who suffered a shoulder injury at Ashfield on Friday, but Drew Kemp stepped in as a guest at short notice and raced to a 12-point maximum from four rides.

Chris Harris (12+1) and ex-Gladiator Dan Thompson (12) also scored heavily for the visitors, with reserve Freddy Hodder joining Thompson for a key 5-1 in Heat 12 which put them four points ahead.

Ben Barker (10+1) top scored for Plymouth, who had been 21-15 up after six heats, but a disqualification for touching the tapes in Heat 13 proved costly as Kemp and Harris collected a 5-1 in the re-run which virtually sealed the away win.

Glasgow manager Cami Brown said: “Drew did an amazing job. He answered the call at very late notice and then was superb all night. We can’t thank him enough.

“The track was challenging early doors. But the boys began to get dialled in and sort out the starts. They showed a lot of battling qualities.

“Chris and Dan were awesome again. But the vital moments came from Ashton (Boughen) winning Heat 8 and then Freddy being the hero again with a big 5-1 in Heat 12.

“Leon (Flint) has had a brilliant 24 hours for the club. He also delivered bigtime and won the all-important Heat 14 to wrap it up.”

Plymouth boss Garry May said: “We started off well, but they have a big four riders and they were coming back at us all the time, and then they started gating on us and some things went their way.

“I’m just maybe one or two riders short of a good side to take this to the play-offs.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
PLYMOUTH 40: Ben Barker 10+1, Joe Thompson 8+1, Zaine Kennedy 6, Nicolai Klindt 5, Ben Trigger 4+2, Alfie Bowtell 4+1, Mitchell Cluff 3+1.
GLASGOW 50: Chris Harris 12+1, Drew Kemp 12, Dan Thompson 12, Leon Flint 7+2, Freddy Hodder 3+1, Ashton Boughen 3, Max Perry 1.

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

Photo credit: CHANNIA FARR