Premier League Fours Northern Group Qualifier 3rd Leg

Shawfield Stadium, Rutherglen

Sunday, 21st June 1998.

Newcastle recovered from a disastrous start to record an easy win in the Glasgow Fours. Edinburgh finished third but completed the away legs with their big lead intact. With the Edinburgh leg to go, it would appear that Newcastle are hot favourites to join the Monarchs in the finals. Glasgow remain well placed to secure a wild card place in the finals.

Glasgow were at full strength for the first time with the return of Dalle Andersson and Grant MacDonald at reserve. Newcastle at last tracked the quartet that many tipped to run away with the Northern Group as Jesper Olsen came back. Malcolm Hogg was reserve. Berwick tracked new signing Scott Robson, a real Shawfield specialist in place of the dropped Jorg Pingel with Meldrum in for injury victim Craig Taylor. René Madsen was reserve. Edinburgh went with their full line-up with Larsen at reserve.

The day was hot and sunny with rain threatening. The track was very dusty and required watering regularly.

Mick Powell made a good start to win as M<eldrum surprisingly held off Little and Werner.

(3-0-2-1)

Steen gated and led from Olsen with Gould staying ahead of Scully. Olsen looked in trouble and went wide at the fourth bend allowing first Gould and then Scully through on the inside. As he crossed the line Olsen's silencer appeared to be falling off.

(6-0-3-3)

Carr missed the start and was last. He was chasing Scott Lamb when the Berwick rider stopped. Stuart Swales stopped the rot for Newcastle with a good win.

(8-3-3-4)

McKinna was first away but Robson swept past on the back straight. Nikki Pedersen stopped when third giving a point to Courtney.

(9-3-6-6)

A superb heat! McKinna gated but was passed by Olsen and Powell on the first lap. Powell passed Olsen as McKinna remained just behind them and probed with a wide line. On the last lap he tried to an outside pass but went too wide leaving room for Scott Lamb to nip through for third.

(12-5-7-6)

Peter Carr gated and won by a proverbial mile!

(12-7-8-9)

Nikki Pedersen with a good win from Meldrum. Andersson stopped gifting a point to Gould.

(12-10-10-10)

Unlucky for Kevin Little after he gated an appeared to have the race under control. Sean Courtney was third and lost position on the fourth bend, he was trying to get back when he tangled with Scully by the start line. The referee harshly excluded the unhappy Scully. In the re-run, Little was left behind and fell and remounted for third.

(14-13-10-11)

Scott Robson won a fiercely contested heat from Mick Powell. Paul Gould was third after an engine failure by Stuart Swales but managed to stay up with Robson and Powell trying an outside line.

(16-13-13-12)

Nikki Pedersen won easily but behind him there was a great battle between Lamb and Little for second. Lamb held the advantage right until the last bend when Little swept past to pip him at the line. This left the match poised with 2 points covering four teams.

(16-16-14-14)

McKinna with a good win over Werner and reserve René Madsen (replacing Scully).

(16-18-15-17)

Olsen consolidated the Newcastle lead with a win over Carr and Courtney.

(17-21-15-19)

Grant MacDonald replaced Dave Steen. McKinna with a second win over Swales and MacDonald.

(18-23-15-22)

Madsen again replaced Scully. This was a tough heat and provided a third win for Pedersen ahead of Powell and Carr.

(20-26-15-23)

Grant MacDonald replaced Dalle Andersson. In the first run of this heat, Kevin Little fell on the exit from the fourth bend when fighting for third place and was excluded. Jesper Olsen lead the re-run from Robson but the Berwick rider slowed down with mechanical problems and MacDonald took second.

(22-29-16-23)

Heat 16: Scott Lamb, Sean Courtney, Brent Werner, Paul Gould [66.0]

this heat was notable for a great battle between Scott lamb and Sean Courtney won on the line by the former.

(24-30-19-23)

For Glasgow, only Mick Powell and Sean Courtney really delivered. Andersson was disappointing on his comeback. Unless he can do something big next week his days are surely numbered. Steen faded after a good win.

Berwick were unlucky to fall behind in the latter stages having been within 2 points of the lead after 10 heats. Robson made a good debut on one his best tracks and Meldrum did well with two seconds. Scully fell victim to the 'curse of Shawfield' with yet another fall and exclusion.

Edinburgh did well to stay in touch in the disadvantaged yellow helmets. Nether Carr nor McKinna were quite at their best. Kevin Little was unlucky to score only 4 points after riding well. Paul Gould can be very pleased with 4 points from very strong field.

Man of the match: Nicki Pedersen

John Lowe
 
 

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