Lightning Ashfield Giants 49: Mildenhall Fen Tigers 43
Conference League
Saracen Park, Ashfield
Sunday 21st May 2000
Conference League title favourites Mildenhall were swept aside by a rampant Lightning team at Ashfield. Despite having some of the most highly rated Conference League riders including hot prospect Barrie Evans, Gavin Hedge, and Shane Colvin, they had no answer to the strength in depth of the Scottish side.
Reserve Rob Grant led the way with a score of sixteen paid seventeen from six rides.
This was a good start for the new team. The crowd looked healthy on a sunny evening. As this was a normal Glasgow race night, the crowd was largely Glasgow supporters. It remains to be seen if they will continue to show up once Lightning revert to Monday evenings.
Lightning were without the unavailable Jon Swales and injury victim David McAllan. Steven McAllister came in along with Australian youngster Rusty Harrison. Steve Camden was absent for the visitors and rider replacement operated.
Heat 1: Robert McNeil, Barrie Evans, Phil Knowles [64.6]
The referee held the tapes for a long time and Christian Henry blew his engine on the start line. McNeil swept ahead from the tapes leaving rider replacement Barrie Evans and Phil Knowles standing.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Robert Grant, Gary Flint, Jitendra Duffil [64.5]
Paul Lydes-Uings had a cracking start and was followed by Grant and Flint. Robert Grant and Flint quickly passed Lydes-Uings who then slowed right down and retired.
(5-1) (8-4)
Heat 3: Gavin Hedge, Rusty Harrison, Shane Colvin, Derek Sneddon [63.7]
Hedge and Colvin blasted ahead from the tapes. Harrison closed on Colvin and tried an inside pass before getting him on the outside. He couldn't get anywhere near Hedge.
(2-4) (10-8)
Heat 4: Robert Grant, Steven McAllister [64.6]
Grant and McAllister made the start and Jitendra retired early on and looked very disgruntled on the centre green. Evans tried to get back on terms but fell on the last lap.
(5-0) (15-8)
Heat 5: Gavin Hedge, Derek Sneddon, Phil Knowles, Rusty Harrison [65.3]
Rider replacement Gavin Hedge again gated with Harrison in hot pursuit but Harrison fell on the first bend and restarted. Derek Sneddon pulled of a good pass on Phil Knowles to split the Mildenhall pair.
(2-4) (17-12)
Heat 6: Christian Henry, Barry Evans, Robert McNeil, Jitendra Duffil [64.4]
Christian Henry came out on Gary Flint's bike and won after getting the better of Evans on the second bend. Paul Lydes-Uings was two minuted earlier and was replaced by Duffil.
(4-2) (21-14)
Heat 7: Shane Colvin, Gavin Hedges, Steven McAllister, Gary Flint [65.1]
An easy maximum for the very powerful Mildenhall middle pairing.
(1-5) (22-19)
Heat 8: Robert Grant, Robert McNeil, Paul Lydes-Uings [64.5]
Paul Lydes-Uings replaced Duffil as a reserve change. Grant and McNeil scored a predictable 5-1 after Knowles retired.
(5-1) (27-20)
Heat 9: Rusty Harrison, Barrie Evans, Gavin Hedge, Derek Sneddon [63.9]
Gavin Hedge came in as a tactical substitute for Lydes-Uings. Harrison gated and was pressurized by Hedge. Then Hedge nearly slid off before recovering in third place. Derek Sneddon closed up and had a go at Hedges just failing on the line.
(3-3) (30-23)
Heat 10: Christian Henry, Gavin Hedge, Shane Colvin, Robert McNeil [64.5]
Christian Henry had an untroubled win over Hedge and Colvin.
(3-3) (33-26)
Heat 11: Gary Flint, Shane Colvin, Barrie Evans, Steven McAllister [64.8]
Mildenhall went for broke with Shane Colvin in as a tactical substitute for rider replacement and Barrie Evans as a tactical substitute for Knowles. Gary Flint seemed unimpressed and gated for an impressive victory
(3-3) (36-29)
Heat 12: Rusty Harrison, Robert Grant, Gavin Hedge, Paul Lydes-Uings [63.8]
Harrison and Grant came up with another 5-1 over Hedge.
(5-1) (41-30)
Heat 13: Barrie Evans, Shane Colvin, Steven McAllister [64.7]
Shane Colvin came in as rider replacement. Christian Henry was replaced by reserve Gary Flint. Flint stopped on the first bend as Mildenhall came back with a 5-1 to keep the match alive.
(1-5) (42-35)
Heat 14: Robert Grant, Gary Flint, Shane Colvin, Phil Knowles [64.2]
Gary Flint was replaced by fellow reserve Rob Grant. Derek Sneddon was then excluded for tape touching and Flint came back in. Knowles replaced Duffil as a tactical substitute. The reserve pairing Grant and Flint swept ahead for another win over Colvin.
(5-1) (47-36)
Heat 15: Barrie Evans, Rob Grant, Gavin Hedge, Gary Flint [64.5]
Lightning went with their reserve pairing against Evans and Hedges. The two visitors made the start and although Grant forced his way past Hedges he could not catch Evans and his maximum was blown. (2-4) (49-40)
|
Lighting Ashfield Giants |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Christian Henry |
R |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
Robert McNeil |
3 |
1 |
2* |
0 |
|
|
|
6+1 |
|
Rusty Harrison |
2 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Derek Sneddon |
0 |
2 |
0 |
T |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Steven McAllister |
2* |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Gary Flint |
2* |
0 |
3 |
R |
2* |
0 |
|
7+2 |
|
Rob Grant |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
3 |
2 |
|
16+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Steve Camden |
Rider replacement |
|
(9+1) |
|||||
|
Phil Knowles |
1* |
1 |
R |
|
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
Gavin Hedge |
3 |
3 |
2* |
1* |
2 |
1 |
1 |
13+2 |
|
Shane Colvin |
1 |
3 |
1* |
2 |
2* |
1 |
|
10+2 |
|
Barrie Evans |
2 |
X |
2 |
2 |
1* |
3 |
3 |
13+1 |
|
Paul Lydes-Uings |
R |
M |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Jitendra Duffil |
1 |
R |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Rob Grant, just short of his 16th Birthday was the star for Lightning. Rusty Harrison was also dominant after taking a couple of heats to get the feel of the track. Christian Henry was not beaten on the track but pulled out after three rides due to problems with his bike. The revelation was Gary Flint who was unrecognizable from the rider of last year. Robert McNeil also showed a return to form. Derek Sneddon didn't have much luck.
Man of the match: Rob Grant
John Lowe