Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs 47 : Newcastle Debmat Diamonds 43

Premier League Northern Group Qualifier

Lothian Arena, Armadale

Friday 10th April 1998

Edinburgh gained the first win in the defence of their Premier League Cup by beating their bogie team of last year, Newcastle. The margin was wider than indicated by the final score since Edinburgh effectively had the match won by opening up a 16-point gap by Heat No 11 and then coasting as Newcastle used tactical substitutes to narrow the margin.

The weather was very cold and windy although dry. The track was obviously suffering from the effects of heavy rain over the past two weeks. Indeed ice had to be broken from the surface during preparation for this match. The crowd was good considering t he cold and many spectators viewed from the comparative warmth of the bar.

Peter Carr made his first appearance although still suffering from his ankle injury. He explained that he probably needed another week but was getting fed up and wanted to give it a go given that Monarchs have a Yorkshire mini-tour next week.

Both teams were at full strength. Newcastle had a very strong top four with three acknowledged Armadale specialists in Olsen, Werner and Stuart Swales along with the exciting Nicki Pedersen. They also had a rather weak bottom three who were unlikely to score more than gift points.

Gate position A was in used with Edinburgh off 1 and 3 for the first heat.

Heat 1: Peter Carr, Paul Gould, Brent Werner, Malcolm Hogg [58.1]

Carr gated ahead of Werner while Gould swept around the American coming into the back straight and held on for a maximum.

(5-1) (5-1)

Heat 2: Blair Scott, Barry Campbell, Jonathon Swales [62.1]

Birkinshaw and Swales had the edge from the inside gates but Scott and Campbell kept up the pressure. Birkinshaw ran into trouble (mechanical or otherwise) on the fourth bend and retired after balking his partner on the outside line. Swales came virtua lly to a stop and by the time he was going again, Scott and Campbell were half a lap ahead.

(5-1) (10-2)

Heat 3: Kevin Little, Nicki Pedersen, Stuart Swales [59.6]

Kevin Little missed the start as Larsen tried to sweep past Pedersen but was forced wide. Little came back and slipped under both the Diamonds. Little was then subjected to tremendous pressure by Pedersen but held his line to win. Pedersen looked rathe r wild and twice nearly forced his teammate off the track. Larsen fell on the last bend.

(3-3) (13-5)

Heat 4: Jesper Olsen, Barry Campbell, Jonathon Swales [59.5]

Kenny McKinna was beaten away by Olsen and appeared to have settled for a shared heat when his bike expired on the last lap with a broken con rod gifting the diamonds a heat advantage.

(2-4) (15-9)

Heat 5: Robert Larsen, Kevin Little, Brent Werner, Malcolm Hogg [60.6]

Robert Larsen gated and Kevin Little tucked in behind to protect him from the predatory Werner.

(5-1) (20-10)

Heat 6: Jesper Olsen, Peter Carr, Paul Gould, James Birkinshaw [58.4]

Olsen beat Carr away and resisted all attempts by Edinburgh's Number 1 to slip inside him. Gould easily beat Birkinshaw to share the heat.

(3-3) (23-13)

Heat 7: Kenny McKinna, Nicki Pedersen, Stuart Swales, Blair Scott [59.9]

Kenny McKinna, on Peter Carr's bike missed the start but swept past Pedersen on the back straight.

(3-3) (26-16)

Heat 8: Paul Gould, Stuart Swales, Barry Campbell, Malcolm Hogg [60.4]

Stuart Swales came in as a tactical substitute for Cousin Jonathan and was first away. Paul Gould pursued and passed him.

(4-2) (30-18)

Heat 9: Jesper Olsen, Kevin Little, Robert Larsen, James Birkinshaw [60.1]

Jesper Olsen had a very predictable third win ahead of Little and Larsen.

(3-3) (33-21)

Heat 10: Peter Carr, Nicki Pedersen, Barry Campbell, Stuart Swales [59.6]

Paul Gould was excluded for taping and was replaced by Barry Campbell. Peter Carr was outgated by Pedersen but passed on the first lap while Campbell stayed ahead of Stuart Swales.

(4-2) (37-23)

Heat 11: Kenny McKinna, Brent Werner, Blair Scott [60.0]

Newcastle replaced Malcolm Hogg with Nicki Pedersen as a tactical substitute. Kenny McKinna came out on Kevin Little's bike this time. The Dane attempting to stay with McKinna managed to push Werner into the second bend boards and was excluded. In the re-run, Werner had a go at McKinna chasing him to the line.

(4-2) (41-25)

Heat 12: Nicki Pedersen, Jesper Olsen, Kevin Little, Barry Campbell [59.8]

With the match virtually lost, Newcastle threw in Jesper Olsen as a tactical substitute and were rewarded with a heat maximum.

(1-5) (42-30)

Heat 13: Jesper Olsen, Brent Werner, Kenny McKinna, Blair Scott [59.8]

Peter Carr was excluded for breaking the tapes and Blair Scott came in. With McKinna on the outside gate, Olsen and Werner were first away and team rode to a second successive heat maximum.

(1-5) (43-35)

Heat 14: Brent Werner, Blair Scott, Robert Larsen, Jonathon Swales [61.1]

Newcastle used their last tactical substitution with Werner coming in for Stuart Swales. Scott and Larsen made the gate but Werner came back taking both Monarchs in turn for a great win.

(3-3) (46-38)

Heat 15: Jesper Olsen, Nicki Pedersen, Peter Carr, Kevin Little [59.9]

Edinburgh had to leave McKinna out of this heat going with Carr and Little. Newcastle predictably went with Olsen and Pedersen and gained another five-one to narrow the gap making the aggregate match point a good bet for Newcastle.

(1-5) (47-43)

Edinburgh managed to do what they failed to do last year and beat Newcastle on the track. This was achieved by solid scoring all down the line. No rider made double figures while the lowest paid score was 6 by Blair Scott.

Peter Carr on his comeback only made one gate but was only beaten on track by the two Danes. Kenny McKinna struggled on borrowed equipment after blowing his engine in his first outing. Kevin Little was also slow from the gate but displayed some good tr ack technique. He also was only beaten by Olsen and Pedersen.

Paul Gould was very impressive but spoiled his figures by taping in Heat 10. Larsen continued his recent form while Campbell and Scott proved far too strong for the Newcastle bottom three.

Edinburgh have at last come up with a way to deal with Jesper Olsen, if he gates let him go and concentrate on the minor placings! Only Peter Carr in Heat 6 attempted to given Olsen a race. Nicki Pedersen looked a very fine rider if rather wild. He was probably as much danger to his partner as he was to the opposition (shades of Brother Ronni!). He came good in the end with wins over Carr and Little. Brent Werner normally a good performer at Armadale was slow to get going but turned in two great rides beating McKinna is and then winning Heat 14 from the back.

Stuart Swales was a major disappointment. Last year he scored 10+1 and 7+2 at Armadale but he was passed by both Gould an Campbell and failed to impose himself. The Newcastle bottom three were never in contention and the only points gained were by Jona than Swales in Heat 2 and Heat 4 (courtesy of a McKinna engine failure). Newcastle will struggle away from home until one or more of them starts to score points.

Man of the match: Jesper Olsen (yet again)

Most exciting rider: Nicki Pedersen (as long as you are not too close to him!)

Next meeting: Premier League Cup Qualifiers v Hull away 15^th April 1998

John Lowe