Spring Trophy First Leg

Lothian Stadium, Armadale

Friday 20 March 1998

Edinburgh at last laid the bogie that Glasgow have had over them in this pre-season challenge with an emphatic victory in the opening night at Armadale in 1998. There was another large crowd with traffic jams more that half an hour before the start . T he weather was dry if rather cold. The track looked in good nick and seemed to have plenty of grip.

Edinburgh suffered a late call off when Peter Carr pulled out due to an ankle injury sustained yesterday. He was replaced by Scott Lamb. Edinburgh won the toss and opted for the inside gates in Heat 1.

Scott Lamb gated ahead of Anderson. Paul Gould was put under some pressure by Will Beveridge. Gould held off this challenge and passed Anderson on the outside of the home straight.

(5-1) (5-1)

Barry Campbell produced a breathtaking outside sweep from gate 4 to take the lead ahead of MacDonald. Blair Scott soon forced his way past for another maximum.

(5-1) (10-2)

(1- 5) (11-7)

Things looked bad for Monarchs when McKinna taped. He was replaced by Blair Scott. The two Edinburgh reserves won another maximum.

(5-1) (16-8)

Robert Larsen made no mistake after gating to pick up his first win. Behind him there was a great battle for second place won by Dalle Anderson over Kevin Little.

(4-2) (20-10)

An easy maximum for Lamb and Gould.

(5-1) (25-11)

McKinna picked up his first win of the evening ahead of the impressive Tigers' pairing. Blair Scott missed the start and dropped his first points of the match.

(3-3) (28-14)

This heat looked good for the Tigers with tactical substitute Sean Courtney heading Campbell and Will Beveridge leading Gould. Then virtually simultaneous passing moves saw Campbell pass Courtney and Gould pass Beveridge who s ubsequently retired.

(4-2) (32-16)

Tigers brought in Mick Powell as a tactical substitute. The Glasgow pairing gated but were split by Kevin Little who passed Dave Steen.

(2-4) (32-20)

Powell and Courtney continued to look almost unbeatable with another maximum.

(1-5) (35-25)

Grant MacDonald came in fort Beveridge as a reserve replacement. Dalle Anderson retired early on as McKinna was joined by Scott for a maximum after Blair had passed MacDonald. (5-1) (40-26)

Heat 12: Mick Powell, Barry Campbell, Kevin Little, Dave Steen [60.1]

Barry Campbell dropped his first point as Powell achieved yet another win. Tactical substitute Dave Steen trailed in last.

(3-3) (42-29)

Another easy maximum for the Monarchs.

(5-1) (47-30)

Scott and Larsen for once got the better of Sean Courtney.

(5-1) (52-31)

The Monarchs reserve pairing were selected deservedly for the top scorers' race but found Powell and Courtney in irresistible form. Barry Campbell fell on the fourth bend of the third lap and the race was stopped and awarded.

(1-5) (54-36)

Glasgow were fortunate to find their middle pairing of Powell and Courtney virtually unbeatable. Without this they would have received a real hammering. The zero by the Armadale specialist Will Beveridge must have disappointed the Tigers management. Th e failure of Grant MacDonald, who generally goes well at Armadale, to beat an Edinburgh rider must also cause concern. Anderson and Steen will have to start scoring points quickly if Tigers are to avoid being branded as potentia l 'wooden spoon' winners.

Most exciting riders: Blair Scott/Barry Campbell

John Lowe
 
 

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