Friday 17th April 1998

Edinburgh beat Hull by a margin sufficient to take them to the top of this qualification group. It looked much different for the first five heats when the Monarchs were struggling to stay on terms. A couple of 5-1 heat advanta ges changed things and even tactical substitutions could not contain the rampant Edinburgh side. The match was entertaining if rather one-sided in the final outside.

The weather was dry if still very cold. The track was very grippy on the outside and this helped to produce a lot of outside passes. Both teams were at full strength.

Gate position B was in used with Hull off 1 and 3 for the first heat.

Heat 1: Peter Carr, Paul Bentley, Paul Gould, Lee Dicken [56.6]

Bentley, from the inside trap, was first away and was followed by Carr and Dicken. Paul Gould tried to go around the outside but was unable to get past Dicken. By the start of the second lap, Carr had blasted under Bentley while Dicken lifted allowing Gould through.

(4-2) (4-2)

Heat 2: John Wilson, Blair Scott, Barry Campbell [58.9]

Wilson made an incredible start and was way ahead of Scott and Cartwright. Cartwright overdid things on the fourth bend and went into boards. In the re-run, Wilson produced another start and won.

(3-3) (7-5)

Heat 3: Paul Thorp, Paul Lee, Robert Larsen, Kevin Little [57.9]

Thorp gated and was never under pressure. Little tried an outside sweep from gate 4 but went too wide at the second bend and dropped back. The rest of the heat was centred on the pursuit of Robert Larsen by Paul Lee which was eventually rewarded by a m aximum.

(1-5) (8-10)

Heat 4: Kenny McKinna, Barry Campbell, John Wilson, Alan Grahame [58.1]

McKinna gated ahead of Wilson. Barry Campbell passed Wilson on the first lap. Alan Grahame was way off the pace.

(5-1) (13-11)

Heat 5: Paul Bentley, Kevin Little, Lee Dicken, Robert Larsen [59.1]

Hull were back on terms after a win from the gate by Bentley with Dicken holding third place.

(2-4) (15-15)

Heat 6: Peter Carr, Paul Gould, Alan Grahame, Simon Cartwright [59.2]

Carr gated ahead of Grahame and Gould. Paul Gould produced an excellent outside pass on Grahame to give Monarchs another maximum.

(5-1) (20-16)

Heat 7: Kenny McKinna, Blair Scott, Paul Thorp, Paul Lee [58.3]

Kenny McKinna gated and was joined by Blair Scott. Paul Thorp threw everything at Scott over the four laps but was unable to get past.

(5-1) (25-17)

Heat 8: Paul Gould, Paul Bentley, Barry Campbell, Lee Dicken [58.7]

Tactical substitution time for Vikings with Bentley in for Wilson. Bentley gated once more but Paul Gould produced a magnificent outside pass to lead. Meanwhile Barry Campbell also passed Lee Dicken.

(4-2) (29-19)

Heat 9: Robert Larsen, Alan Grahame, John Wilson [59.6]

This looked set for another Edinburgh 5-1 after Larsen and Little went ahead at the start. However, Little dropped out with an engine failure gifting points to Grahame and reserve replacement John Wilson.

(3-3) (32-22)

Heat 10: Paul Thorp, Peter Carr, Paul Gould, Paul Lee [57.7]

Paul Thorp edged ahead at the tapes and resisted all attempts by Peter Carr pass him.

(3-3) (35-25)

Heat 11: Kenny McKinna, Blair Scott, Paul Bentley, Lee Dicken [58.3]

McKinna headed Bentley at the start but Blair Scott, from gate 4, squeezed past Bentley on the second bend. Bentley ended the first lap in last place but did mount an unsuccessful charge for second place on the line. Scott commented that it was a 'very scary race'.

(5-1) (40-26)

Heat 12: Paul Thorp, Kevin Little, Barry Campbell, Simon Cartwright [59.4]

Kevin Little managed to gate ahead of Thorp but was passed. Campbell stayed ahead of Cartwright to tie the heat.

(3-3) (43-29)

Heat 13: Peter Carr, Kenny McKinna, Paul Bentley [58.7]

Paul Thorp was in as a tactical substitute for Grahame. Carr gated ahead of Thorp and McKinna. There was a great scrap for second place won by McKinna after a superb outside pass on Thorp who subsequently retired with engine failure.

(5-1) (48-30)

Heat 14: Robert Larsen, Alan Grahame, Blair Scott, John Wilson [60.2]

Alan Grahame came in as tactical substitute for Paul Lee and was outgated by Robert Larsen and never looked like getting on terms. He did manage to stay ahead of Blair Scott.

(4-2) (52-32)

Heat 15: Peter Carr, Paul Thorp, Kenny McKinna, Paul Bentley [58.5]

Carr made the gate and stayed in front while Thorp denied McKinna his paid maximum with a determined ride for second.

(4-2) (56-34)

Edinburgh were solid all the way down. There were only three non-scoring rides from the home team, one an engine failure by Kevin Little

Peter Carr looked more like himself but was denied a maximum by Thorp in Heat 10. Maybe an outside pass would have worked. Kenny McKinna also missed out on a paid maximum after failing to beat Thorp in the last heat. Kevin Little struggled somewhat. He was unlucky to miss out on a paid win in Heat 9 due to engine failure.

Paul Gould continues to improve and had two cracking outside passes of Grahame and Bentley. Robert Larsen had a nightmare start but finished with two wins. Blair Scott and Barry Campbell both gated well and looked good.

It is good to see Paul Thorp back in a Hull racejacket. He was good value for 12 points and provided great entertainment. Paul Bentley gated well but was unable to mix it from behind. Alan Grahame was an embarrassment. Is this the same rider who domina ted to Premier League Cup averages this time last year and who won his first four heats at Armadale? Now is the time to retire!

Lee Dicken also failed to match his Armadale form of last season. Paul Lee started with a great paid win but faded. John Wilson was flattered with a score of 5+1. He had a good win in Heat 2 but his other points were at the expense of Alan Grahame and a Kevin Little engine failure. Simon Cartwright looked quite good despite failing to score.

Man of the match: toss up between Peter Carr, Kenny McKinna, and Paul Thorp

Most exciting rider: Paul Gould just gets the nod ahead of Blair Scott.

The Northern Group is well matched and away victories are likely to be hard to come by. Bonus points are thus likely to settle the issue so it is important to avoid big defeats. This win could prove crucial in the final outcome.

Next meeting: Premier League Cup Qualifiers v Newcastle away 17^th April 1998.

John Lowe