Premier League Cup; Northern Group Qualifier
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 26th June 1998
This match went ahead at the third attempt. Given the problems it should not have gone ahead. Despite the air of farce surrounding the meeting, I suspect that everyone concerned was glad to get it over and done with even though both teams have probably exited the Cup.
The weather was the first problem with very heavy rain falling at tea time. While it had slowed to a drizzle by 7.00pm and stopped by 7.30pm, the track was soddened. Even the appearance of bright sunshine and the best rainbow I have ever seen did little to brighten the gloom. Then as the match was about to get underway the electrics in the referees' box failed. An attempt to restore power failed and the match went ahead with flag starts.
Edinburgh unveiled their new team with Marcus Andersson replacing Paul Gould at Number 2 and Steven Jones coming in at Number 7 for Barry Campbell. As if two rookies were not enough, Kevin Little was out injured following his crash at Shawfield last week and Paul Pickering came in. That was Monarchs' first mistake! Glasgow were at full strength.
Glasgow won the toss and opted for gates 1 and
3 in Heat 1.
Carr made a good start but with everyone slithering around the track, Dalle Andersson passed. Carr recovered to retake the lead while Will Beveridge fell and restarted looking very shaky indeed.
(4-2) (4-2)
Blair Scott gated ahead of Turner and MacDonald. Steven Jones wasn't far off the pace until he fell and restarted. Scott held off Turner for a couple of laps, then MacDonald had a go but Blair held his line well to win.
(3-3) (7-5)
Paul Pickering and Robert Larsen were first away but Powell was soon past Larsen and after Pickering. After a long chase Mick passed Pickering on the last lap as Larsen riding far too wide allowed Courtney to slip inside him on the last bend to huge cheers from the Glasgow support.
(2-4) (9-9)
An easy win for McKinna with Jones predictably at the rear.
(3-3) (12-12)
A first Armadale win for Dalle Andersson ahead of Pickering and Larson, Will Beveridge fell once more and looked very shaking when he restarted.
(3-3) (15-15)
An easy win for Carr over Steen. The real battle was for third place with Andersson and MacDonald swapping positions a couple of times.
(3-3) (18-18)
Mick Powell was first away from gate 2 but McKinna rode a very hard first bend from gate 1 to edge ahead. Sean Courtney fell and remounted.
(4-2) (22-20)
Reserve changes here with Blair Scott replacing Steven Jones and Grant MacDonald coming in for Beveridge. Marcus Andersson had a good ride to win from Blair Scott.
(5-1) (27-21)
Just when things seemed to be brightening up for Monarchs, the rain started again and Tigers took a 5-1. Dave Steen fell at the first bend after a clash with Pickering but was invited back for a rerun. Second time around it nearly happened again. Pickering fell this time leaving Steen and MacDonald for an easy maximum.
(1-5) (28-26)
Peter Carr chose the wrong heat to miss the start with Mick Powell in opposition. Carr was left trailing by as Powell and Marcus Andersson were first away but soon passed Courtney but was never going to get near Powell. Andersson then fell when second.
(2-4) (30-30)
Kenny McKinna won in the fastest time of the night ahead of Dalle Andersson. Will Beveridge appeared to have third place but a determined Blair Scott forced his way past on the last bend.
(4-2) (34-32)
A disaster for Monarchs after Paul Pickering totally missed the start leaving Mick Powell to escort Grant MacDonald to a maximum. Pickering retired to leave Jones to pick up a point.
(1-5) (35-37)
Carr was away well but McKinna hit trouble on the first bend and limped around in the hope of Steen or Andersson hitting problems.
(3-3) (38-40)
Grant MacDonald replaced Brain Turner as a reserve change. Robert Larsen fell on the first bend and stayed down expecting to be invited back for the restart. This did not please the Tigers support with MacDonald and Courtney ahead. Larsen was excluded for the re-run. This time Courtney and MacDonald again headed Scott. Blair continued to chase Courtney after MacDonald surged ahead and was rewarded with an excellent pass to take the match to a last heat decider.
(2-4) (40-44)
The inevitable happened and the Monarchs big guns secured the draw after going ahead from the gate.
(5-1) (45-45)
| Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs | ||||||||
| Peter Carr | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
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| Marcus Andersson | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
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| Paul Pickering | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
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| Robert Larsen | 0 | 1 | 1* | X |
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| Kenny McKinna | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2* |
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| Blair Scott | 3 | 1 | 2* | 1 | 2 |
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| Steven Jones | F | 0 | 1 |
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| Glasgow Qfm Tigers | ||||||||
| Dalle Andersson | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1* |
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| Will Beveridge | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| Mick Powell | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2* | 1 |
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| Sean Courtney | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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| Dave Steen | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
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| Grant MacDonald | 2 | 1* | 1 | 2* | 3 | 3 |
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| Brian Turner | 1* | 1* | 0 |
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Glasgow were sustained by Mick Powell and Grant MacDonald as ever with help from Steen. Dalle Andersson had probably his most productive meeting so far in a disappointing season. Courtney was quite while Turner only took points off Steven Jones. Will Beveridge, normally a competent Armadale performer, really seemed to dislike the conditions. He fell twice and finishing pointless.
The referee took a very lenient attitude to riders jumping the flag starts. It probably all evened up in the end.
With the Stoke results stricken from
the Northern Group records, Sheffield and Berwick will progress to the
semi-final of the Premier League Cup. Glasgow would have gone through had
the results stood whether or not Berwick had beaten Stoke in the unstaged
match at Shielfield.
Most exciting rider: Blair Scott (for
two match saving passes)
John Lowe