The Tigers won the toss and Ricky chose gates 1&3. Peter Karlsson flew into an early lead from the outside gate and never looked like being caught until he shed a chain at the start of the last lap. Ricky had passed Hugh on the first lap but was well off PK's pace, while Hugh looked comfortable ahead of James Wright in third place. Josh Grajczonek made an electric start to lead heat 2 but the Tigers reserves were never troubled by a pedestrian Will Lawson. Leigh Lanham rounded the field to lead heat 3 from Richard, Josh and Owlerton debutant Patrick Hougaard. Richard started the new season as he finished the last taking a tumble on the third turn. Josh Auty quickly closed on Leigh and tried to dive through on the inside of turn three on the second lap but Leigh had the pace to edge ahead out of turn four. As Leigh covered the inside on the next lap Josh blasted high and wide and into the lead and was a good ten lengths clear by the chequered flag. Tai Woffinden trapped in heat 4 and pulled away from Paul who in turn extended his lead over Josef. James Wright was pulled back for taking a flyer in heat 5, but did it again to lead the rerun. PK passed him on the third turn but Josh couldn't make any impression. The scores are dead level but it has started to rain.

Ricky trapped ahead in heat 6 but had Josh Grajczonek and Tai hard on his tail. Tai reared on the pits turn, second lap and fell. Patrick Hougaard led from Leigh Lanham with Josef hard on their heels. Patrick's bike expired on the back straight on te third lap while Josef was climbing all over Leigh. Josef dived under Leigh and into the lead on the third bend on the last lap. Paul was obviously over anxious and nudged the tapes at the start of heat 8 earning himself a 15 metre handicap. I would have put Arlo in at the tapes but obviously Eric knows better. Hugh trapped first but James Wright passed him on the pits turn to take the lead. Paul was right on William Lawson's exhaust by the end of the first lap but just couldn't make the pass. Good race though. (The rain has now stopped). Tai trapped ahead of Auty in heat 9 while Richard passed Josh at the start of the second lap to take third. Josh and Tai passed and repassed countless times before Josh opened a slight lead on the last lap. Brilliant speedway and very well received by the large crowd. Leigh trapped from the inside gate to lead heat 10 and Patrick took Ricky out of contention on the first bend. Ricky passed Hugh on the third lap just as Patrick's engine expired from the lead but he just couldn't find the drive to pass Leigh on the last lap. Good racing though and the Tigers lead stands at four points.

Josef trapped ahead in heat 11 but PK nipped inside him out of turn 2. James passed Arlo out of the pits turn and set off after the leaders and eventually passed Josef on the inside of the pits bend on the third lap. Patrick led heat 12 from Richard and Josh G. Richard made a complete balls of the third turn allowing Josh G through into second place and then made little or no effort to redress the balance. PK led heat 13 from Josef and Ricky with Tai tailed off at the back. Tai tried every which way before passing Ricky out of turn two on the last lap. Leigh led heat 14 from Arlo and Josh. Josh stormed past his team mate on the second lap but only got the better of Leigh when his bike slowed dramatically on the last lap. Eric predictabally chose his two top scorers for the nominated heat, while Morty went with James and PK. Peter showed his class trapping ahead and pulling clear of the field.

Not a bad meeting with some good races. The Tigers should take the positives from this defeat by their Elite League opponents and come back strongly for their opening Premier Trophy clash at Scunthorpe tomorrow.

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