Tai can't guide Rockets to victory

11:03am Monday 14th July 2008

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SPEEDWAY

THREE superb displays from teenage sensation Tai Woffinden wasn't enough to guide Rye House to their first away win of the season as the team returned from their Northern tour empty-handed.

Sunday's 52-41 defeat to second-bottom Glasgow followed losses to Berwick and Edinburgh to leave the Rockets languishing in 13th place in the Premier League.

After falling behind early on to Glasgow, Woffinden and team-mate Luke Bowen launched a fight-back. But after clawing their way back into the match, the momentum swung once again to hand their hosts the victory.

Woffinden's impressive haul of 17 points in the match concluded a somewhat familiar pattern throughout the weekend's otherwise disappointing tour.

The 17-year-old was just two points shy of registering a full house over 15 rides against the Scottish contingent, but he was powerless to stop his side falling at each of the three hurdles.

A demoraling 60-33 defeat to Berwick was preceeded by a thrilling 47-46 loss to Edinburgh on Saturday.

The Rockets were staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat at 39-27, but five maximums from Woffinden and impressive point tallies from Chris Neath (12) and Danny Halsey (6+3) put them in with a shout in the final race.

But despite Woffinden taking the chequred flag, Neath couldn't get past Matthew Wethers into second place that would have given the Rockets that vital final point.