Hull Vikings 54 : Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs 35

New Craven Park, Hull

Wednesday 20^th May 1998

On the face of it this match provided something for both sides. A much needed big win for Hull prior to the start of their Premier League campaign and a aggregate match point for Edinburgh to keep alike their slim hopes of qualification for the cup semi-finals.

Edinburgh certainly looked like a side with limited ambitions and just about defended a 22 point lead for the bonus point. The heat leaders tried no heroics around the boards and settled for second place on most occasions. This resulted in a dull processional fixture enlivened only by some touches of genius from Paul Thorp. Of particular note was a sweeping pass over Kenny McKinna in Heat 4 and a marvellous ride from last to first in Heat 15.

The track looked very well prepared if very slick and the wet weather held off throughout. Hull were at full strength while Edinburgh used Peterborough second string Nigel Sadler (GPA = 7.21) in place of the Premier League Riders Champion, Peter Carr (10.15). This seemed a strange choice with the whole of the Premier League pool bar Mullett, and Stonehewer to choose from, but apparently guests were hard to find for Wednesday and a lot of frantic telephone calls were made.

Kenny McKinna won the toss and went for heat position B.

Heat 1: Nigel Sadler, Alan Grahame, Robert Larsen [68.5]

Nigel Sadler made a good start from gate 1 and held off Alan Grahame. Robert Larsen was ahead of Lee Dicken who stopped with engine problems.

(2-4) (2-4)

Heat 2: John Wilson, Barry Campbell [69.7]

Blair Scott made a good start and it looked like a clear case of first bend bunching when he fell. Blair cleared his bike away and the race was allowed to go on. Simon Cartwright fell when trailing.

(3-2) (5-6)

Heat 3: Paul Bentley, Kevin Little, Paul Lee, Paul Gould [68.5]

Paul Bentley gated ahead of Little and that was that.

(4-2) (9-8)

Heat 4: Paul Thorp, Kenny McKinna, Simon Cartwright, Barry Campbell [67.2]

McKinna gated but Thorp swept round him on the back straight with deceptive ease on the first lap. Cartwright got the better of Campbell.

(4-2) (13-10)

Heat 5: Paul Bentley, Nigel Sadler, Paul Lee, Robert Larsen [68.5]

Bentley gated ahead of Sadler while Lee passed Larsen on the first lap for another heat advantage.

(4-2) (17-12)

Heat 6: Alan Grahame, Kenny McKinna, Lee Dicken, Blair Scott [68.6]

Grahame made the start this time ahead of McKinna. Blair Scott also started well but seemed to lack speed on the straight and was passed by Dicken on lap 2.

(4-2) (21-14)

Heat 7: Paul Thorp, John Wilson, Kevin Little, Paul Gould [69.7]

Wilson gated ahead of Thorp with Little at the back. Thorp seem to be shepherding Wilson home when Gould made a charge around the outside. Thorp decided to go ahead and no risk being passed. Wilson then held off attempts by Gould and Little to pass.

(5-1) (26-15)

Heat 8: Kenny McKinna, Nigel Sadler, Lee Dicken, Simon Cartwright 68.6]

Edinburgh decided that enough was enough made a double tactical switch with McKinna and Sadler coming in for Larsen and Campbell. This produced the expected maximum.

(1-5) (27-20)

Heat 9: Kenny McKinna, Paul Bentley, Paul Lee, Blair Scott [68.7]

McKinna made it two in a row after beating Bentley. Paul Lee held third place from a slow looking Blair Scott.

(3-3) (30-23)

Heat 10: Alan Grahame, Kevin Little, Lee Dicken, Paul Gould [68.8]

Grahame gated once more and recorded his second win.

(4-2) (34-25)

Heat 11: John Wilson, Paul Thorp, Robert Larsen, Nigel Sadler [69.0]

Wilson and Thorp gated to keep their paid maximums while Sadler missed the start.

(5-1) (39-26)

Heat 12: Paul Bentley, Robert Larsen, Simon Cartwright [68.9]

Edinburgh put Robert Larsen in as a tactical substitute for Blair Scott. Paul Bentley gated and led Kevin Little and Robert Larsen while Cartwright fell at the back and restarted. This restart proved valuable when Little stopped with engine problems.

(4-2) (43-28)

Heat 13: Paul Thorp, Nigel Sadler, Kenny McKinna, Alan Grahame [67.9]

Paul Thorp on easily as Sadler and McKinna held the minor placings ahead of Grahame to edge closer to the 34 point target. (3-3) (46-31)

Heat 14: John Wilson, Kevin Little, Barry Campbell, Paul Lee [69.1]

Kevin Little came in as tactical substitutes for Paul Gould and made his only start of the night. Unfortunately this did not count as Paul Lee hit the first bend fencing with some force and all four were invited back. This time Wilson made his usual fast start although Little and Campbell finished ahead of Lee to collect the three points needed for the bonus.

(3-3) (49-34)

Heat 15: Paul Thorp, John Wilson, Kevin Little, Nigel Sadler [68.8]

Hull selected their two paid maximum riders while Edinburgh left out Kenny McKinna since the bonus point was now safe. John Wilson gated once more ahead of Sadler and Thorp. As Thorp tried to pass on the outside of the back straight, Sadler cut across to block Thorp and allowed Kevin Little through to second place. Sadler held back Thorp for another lap or so. Once Thorp was past the Australian, he surged past Little and Wilson almost in one operation. A staggering manoeuvre! This brought a huge cheer from the sparse and somewhat muted home crowd.

(5-1) (54-35)

Apart from Thorp, the Hull team seemed solid rather than inspiring. Bentley provided good backup. Alan Grahame has confounded those including myself who wrote him off earlier in the season. He produced a gutsy display on an upright machine. Lee Dicken and Paul Lee did nothing special. The real surprise package was John Wilson who came up with a paid maximum from reserve through some brilliant gating. He may have had more retirement parties than Frank Sinatra but he certainly looks a good rider on this track.

Kenny McKinna did OK losing only to Thorp and Grahame. Nigel Sadler and Kevin Little did their best but Edinburgh were lacking power at the top end due to the injury to Carr. Gould and Scott had meetings to forget although Larsen and Campbell just about earn pass marks.

Man of the match: Paul Thorp

Most exciting rider: Paul Thorp

Next cup meeting: versus Glasgow at Armadale on Friday 29^th April.

John Lowe