ALAN DICK realised that the Glasgow Tiger's new season might be jinxed when the rider he booked to replace his injured skipper Shane Parker subsequently got crocked himself.

Craig Watson was due to race in Saturday night's 65-27 mauling at Rye House.

But he suffered agonising knee damage at King's Lynn the night before he was due to ride for the Tigers.

Isle of Wight ace Corey Gathercole deputised for Watson, but managed just five points as Tigers crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season.

Tigers chief Dick moaned: "Corey gave us 100% but Rye are just so strong at home. They are probably unbeatable when they play there.

"But it is just testimony to the way our season has panned out.

"Craig has been in stunning form recently for Birmingham and we had high hopes of him scoring big at Rye.

"We didn't ever envisage having to replace our replacement though, it's just bizarre.

"Birmingham have also had loads of problems so maybe it isn't just a Glasgow thing."

Robert Ksiezak was Tigers' one shining light at Rye, and roared to a top-scoring 13-point haul, beating previously undefeated duo Tomas Topinka and Tommy Allen in the last race.

Trent Leverington racked up just three points but later revealed he had been suffering from a viral infection which affected his form.

Dick added: "The defeat was all the more disappointing considering we won on the road at Mildenhall last Sunday.

"Of course, we knew that Rye House represented a different proposition to bottom club Mildenhall, but we thought we might push them a bit closer.

"But we have an opportunity to gain some revenge when Rye visit Ashfield this coming Sunday. I believe we can beat them at home."