AARON SUMMERS was a wanted man when Glasgow Tigers did their homework in the close season and found the popular Australian excelled on tracks in the north of Britain.

Glasgow’s faith has been repaid as the 27-year-old from Adelaide has posted a succession of high scores this season.

Sunday’s double-header against Newcastle Diamonds in the quarter-final of the Premier League Knockout Cup was a perfect example.

The former Edinburgh Monarchs star top scored with 16 points from six races, including four heat wins, at Ashfield and then collected 14 more from five rides, including four first places, on the notoriously difficult shale on Tyneside.

A grand total of 30 points in a team aggregate score of 81 was memorable and Summers has led by example for most of the season.

He was the final piece in Tigers’ line-up and Summers put pen to paper in January after lengthy negotiations with Redcar Bears over his transfer fee.

The former Australian under-16 champion has also proved his worth off the track, acting Glasgow’s skipper and one of their main go-to riders for the media.

Summers has extensive knowledge of British speedway. He stated his career in this country in 2007 riding for Buxton and Edinburgh and jumped to the attention of Tigers bosses by scoring his first maximum at Ashfield.

Summers has also enjoyed Elite League experience with Birmingham Brummies and Coventry Bees and Alan Dick, Tigers’ co-promoter, said: “We knew Aaron rode Northern tracks well. He started his career with Edinburgh and posted good numbers at Newcastle, Redcar and Workington. These are tracks we visit most so we started talks.

“Aaron is popular and is a good captain, advising riders, and he leads by example as Sunday showed. A total of 30 points out of 81 is exceptional and he is in incredible form currently. Long may it continue.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh Monarchs have paid tribute to club director Brian Gray who died suddenly last week.

John Campbell, Monarchs’ co-promoter, said: “I am in shock. Brian has been a club director since November 2012 when he made a personal donation at a very difficult time for the Monarchs.

“Since then he has worked tirelessly and become a very popular figure known as Uncle B. We are greatly saddened by his loss.”

RESULTS:

Premier League: Edinburgh v Berwick postponed; Berwick 50 (Ben Barker (guest) 9, Anders Mellgren 8, Ryan Fisher (guest) 16, rider replacement for Claus Vissing, Kevin Doolan 10, Fernando Garcia 3, Richard Hall 4), Workington 43 (Ricky Wells 14, rider replacement for Rusty Harrison, Rene Bach 7, Kenneth Hansen 4, Kyle Howarth 3, Matt Williamson 2, Matthew Wethers 13).

Workington 59 (Ricky Wells 15, rider replacement for Rusty Harrison, Rene Bach 10, Kenneth Hansen 17, Kyle Howarth 7, Ryan Blacklock (guest) 1, Matthew Wethers 9), Berwick 33 (Rohan Tungate 4, Anders Mellgren 5, Ryan Fisher (guest) 11, rider replacement for Claus Vissing, Kevin Doolan 7, Fernando Garcia 2, Richard Hall 4.

Premier League Knockout Cup: first-leg: Glasgow 48 (Nick Morris 8, James Sarjeant 8, Aaron Summers 16, rider replacement for Kauko Nieminen), Richard Lawson 10, Liam Carr 0, Hynek Stichauer 6), Newcastle Diamonds 42 (Steve Worrall 10, rider replacement for Christian Henry, Matej Kus (guest) 11, Anton Rosen 4, Ludvig Lindgren 5, Simon Nielsen 4, Tero Aarnio 8. Second-leg: Newcastle 56 (Steve Worrall 11, rider replacement for Christian Henry, Richie Worrall (guest) 10, Anton Rosen 10, Ludvig Lindgren 9, Simon Nielsen 6, Tero Aarnio 10. Glasgow Tigers 33 (Nick Morris 8, James Sarjeant 2, Aaron Summers 14, rider replacement for Kauko Nieminen, Richard Lawson 6, Liam Carr (guest) 2, Hynek Stichauer 1.