Speedway – Tigers boss angry at Pairs referee

Glasgow Tigers team manager Stewart Dickson insists the Knockout Cup Cup quarter-final with Newcastle Diamonds is still in the balance despite only taking a two-point lead to the North East on Monday.

Dan Bewley, Jack Smith and Richard Lawson all return to the team and Dickson said: “Losing two 5-1s in the last two heats was a blow, ut I still think it’s in the balance because we’ve got most of our team back.

“We have to get in among their big two of Robert Lambert and Steve Worrall. We can take points off the rest of their team, but our big points need to take points off their big boys.

“I feel we can match them everywhere else but heats 13 and 15 could be our downfall if we’re not careful.

“I hope Jack Smith and Dan Bewley can bring the form they’ve been showing for Belle Vue. I also hope Richard Lawson can bring his Premiership form to Brough Park.

“We intend to go down there and win the tie and give ourselves a chance in the semi-final.”

Meanwhile, Dickson bemoaned a refereeing decision which he said cost Glasgow a place in the final of the SGB Championship Pairs at Sheffield.

Lawson and Aaron Summers qualified in second from their group to set up a with Redcar for a place against hosts Sheffield in the final.

With Lawson second behind Redcar’s Charles Wright, a third place for Summers would have been enough and they thought they had got that when the Tigers rider appeared to beat Ben Barker in the run-in to the line.

However, referee Stuart Wilson gave it to Barker, sending the Bears through.

Dickson claimed he had been shown proof that Summers should have been given third place.

He said: “The centre green photographer showed me the picture and you can clearly see that Aaron got it by more than half a bike length, but the referee got it wrong, which is the third time he has done so against our club.

“That was a big call and a very poor decision in a big meeting. I feel sorry for the Glasgow fans who travelled down and our riders are gutted as well.”

Sheffield went on to win the event. Edinburgh did not get out of Group B. They scored 20 points with Sam Masters collecting 12 and Ricky Wells eight. Berwick were in the same group and skipper Kevin Doolan scored four and David Howe seven.