Steve Johnston powers to the front to win heat 1 from Ricky Ashworth, but Aaron Summers can only follow Hugh Skidmore home for a shared heat. Paul Cooper and Arlo Bugeja trap ahead in heat 2 but Justin Sedgmen dives under Arlo at the start of lap 2, and Tom Perry goes around him on the last lap. Josh Auty leads heat 3 but Josef Franc loses second place on the third turn as Richard Sweetman powers around the outside. Disaster strikes as Josh's bike expires on the back straight. Jason Lyons and Justin Sedgmen take a comfortable win in heat 4 when Richard Hall is left standing as the tapes rise. Johno wins heat 5 after a good battle with Josh but it's Aaron's turn for the gremlins. Brummies lead stands at six points.

Ricky slews from the inside of turn one to scrape the fence on turn two looking for drive in heat 6 but is still passed by Justin, while Hugh passes Jason to share another heat. Richard Sweetman wins heat 7 from Richard Hall and Paul. Paul is out again replacing Arlo in heat 8 and he traps Justin against the white line on turn one. Justin recovers to pass Hugh but all attention is on the brilliant scrap for the lead between Paul and Aaron. Jason led heat 9 from Justin but both Josh and Josef were biting at his heels. Josh made the pass on the inside of turn two just as Josef was trying an outside blast and he clipped Justin's back wheel taking a nasty tumble. Josh moved Justin out going into turn one in the rerun and passed Jason out of turn two going on to win by a proverbial mile. Ricky rounded the field to lead heat 10 and looked comfortable until Richard Sweetman made up yards on the last lap. Brummies lead extended to eight points.

Richard Hall fell on the third bend challenging Aaron for the lead and Paul, who was battling Johno, had to take evasive action. Richard remounted but it was all too late by then. Josef led heat 12 until the pits turn when Justin dived past. Jason and Steve were untroubled in heat 13 but Richard had his work cut out before passing his team mate at the start of the last lap. Paul led heat 14 but Richard Sweetman scraped the fence to pass him exiting turn two. Paul seemed to bounce off the fence on the apex of the third and fourth turns on the second lap allowing Josh through into second place and his persistence was rewarded as he dived past Richard on the third turn to take a good win. Nominations for heat 15 go to Johno and Richard Sweetman for the Brummies, and Josh and Josef for the Tigers. I suppose it was a meaningless exercise as the match had been won many races ago, but it seems we are no longer interested in entertaining the fans. The Brummies gated and Josh stopped on the first lap.

So much for fortress Owlerton. When are we going to get the track prepared for our own riders? I wouldn't mind losing if we are at least entertained by some good racing, but that was in poor supply tonight. Many home supporters knew what to expect and voted with their feet. Will they ever return?

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