Premier League Northern Group Qualifier

Shielfield Park, Berwick

Saturday, 2nd May 1998.

Berwick won a rather dull match against Edinburgh by a somewhat flattering margin of 14 points. Monarchs suffered from five engine failures, two from Kenny McKinna while leading , one from Kevin Little while also leading and two from Blair Scott, one while in a scoring position.

Both teams were at full strength on a cold evening. The track was as bald as a Bobby Charlton hairstyle. There was some dirt out wide but few ventured there without getting into problems. The strategy to win was firstly make the gate, and if not hope that your opponent took the wrong line through the corners. This always worked for the home team against the Monarchs second strings.

Berwick won the toss and opted for gate position A.

The first start was aborted when Larsen fell on the first bend with all four back. In the re-run Larsen made the gate from trap 4 and was joined on the back straight by Peter Carr. Scott Lamb made a charge around the first/second bend and Larsen fell as Lamb, with nowhere to go, went straight through him. Both were soon up as Larsen was excluded. Peter Carr gated and won the re-run with ease while Taylor fell at the back but finished.

(3-3) (3-3)

Blair Scott gated but was swept aside by first McAllan and then Madsen as he struggled to find the right line around the first/second bend.

(5-1) (8-4)

Kevin Little swept ahead and seemed to have the race under control when he suffered an engine failure gifting a second successive maximum.

(5-1) (13-5)

McKinna gated and held on until he missed the line and allowed Madsen to pass.

(4-2) (17-7)

Robert Larsen gated once more but was easily picked off by Scully and M<eldrum as Carr took over to win.

(3-3) (20-10)

Blair Scott made a great start but was passed by both Bandits before stopping due to engine failure and McKinna won easily.

(3-3) (23-13)

Pingel gated and beat Little and McAllan.

(4-2) (27-15)

Kenny McKinna came in as a tactical substitute for Campbell and won. Robert Larsen missed the gate for once and trailed.

(3-3) (30-18)

Kenny McKinna won again but a real sickener for Blair Scott who managed to pass Meldrum only to suffer another engine failure when third.

(3-3) (33-21)

Barry Campbell came in for Gould as a reserve change to clear his three rides. Kevin Little won from Lamb and Taylor.

(3-3) (36-24)

Paul Gould came in for Larsen as a tactical substitute to complete Gould's three rides. Carr won with little difficulty. Gould made a fair start but appeared to be nudged aside by McAllan. Gould had a good crack at getting back on terms but was unable to pass McAllan.

(3-3) (39-27)

Kevin Little won his second successive race while Blair Scott was passed after making a good start.

(3-3) (42-30)

Carr and McKinna gated and seemed firmly in control when Kenny seemed to lose power and held his hand up while the Bandits passed him.

(3-3) (45-33)

Carr and Little came in as tactical substitutes for Gould and Campbell while Madsen came in as a reserve change for McAllan. Little lead from the start while Carr missed the gate and while he was able to pass Meldrum could not find a way past Madsen.

(2-4) (47-37)

Kenny McKinna lead from the start but blew another motor when looking sure to win.

(5-1) (52-38)

Monarchs' strategy to get a draw with three maximums in the last three heats looked plausible given the superiority of their heat leaders involved. This came undone due to missed starts by Carr and Little and two engine failures for McKinna.

The facts speak for themselves, Edinburgh riders won 10 of the 15 heats (four from Carr, three each from McKinna and Little) yet collected last place in 14 heats. While the Monarchs heat leaders more than held their own, the second strings and reserves seemed unable to find their way around the long, narrow, and very slick track. Monarchs riders also failed to collect a single bonus point.

Larsen looked as if he might pick up some points but lack of track craft let him down, Blair Scott looked good from the start but was also vulnerable from the back (and engine failures). Paul Gould seemed to be coming top terms with the track on his third ride but generally does badly on this type of track.

Berwick scored solidly down the line but the real trump card was Madsen at reserve. Whoever allowed him the drop down from the Elite League on a 4.98 average obviously had a sense of humour. True, he couldn't score in the rarefied atmosphere of the Elite League but neither could Paul Thorp and he was given an average of 10.00.

Man of the match: Kenny McKinna who was unlucky not to take 17 points

John Lowe
 
 

Fixtures

Match Reports

Edinburgh Monarchs Home Page