Premier League Northern Group Qualifier

Brough Park Stadium, Newcastle

Newcastle staked a claim to Premier League Cup Semi-final place with a hard earned win over a slightly jaded Edinburgh side securing the first aggregate match point for the group. Due to the tightness of the group this bonus point could prove criti cal in the final reckoning.

The match hinged in two heats (Heat 2 and Heat 8) which Edinburgh appeared to have secured maximums but ended up as shared heats. Edinburgh never quite recovered although they did take it to a last heat decider for both match and bonus points.

The weather was rather drizzly at the start although this cleared up as the meeting went on. The track was very slick although the home riders managed some passing particularly coming out of the fourth bend where the visitors seemed to be troubled.

Newcastle had gates 1 and 3 for the first heat.

Heat 1: Brent Werner, Peter Carr, Paul Gould, Malcolm Hogg [65.4]

Werner gated ahead of Carr and held on. Paul Gould passed Malcolm Hogg without difficulty.

(3-3) (3-3)

Heat 2: Jonathan Swales, Barry Campbell, Blair Scott [69.1]

Birkinshaw was excluded on two minutes after trying to change his bike at the start. In the race, Scott and Campbell gated ahead of Swales and appeared to be team riding to a solid 5-1. Scott then fell and remounted and Campbell perhaps feeling the pre ssure allowed himself to be passed by Swales in the race for the line.

(3-3) (6-6)

Heat 3: Nicki Pedersen, Kevin Little, Stuart Swales, Robert Larsen [66.7]

Larsen gated ahead of Pedersen and Little but was passed by Pedersen and Swales to finish last.

(4-2) (10-8)

Heat 4: Jesper Olsen, Kenny McKinna, Jonathan Swales, Barry Campbell [65.7]

McKinna had the edge from the gates but was passed by Olsen on the fourth bend of the first lap.

(4-2) (14-10)

Heat 5: Stuart Swales, Nicki Pedersen, Peter Carr, Paul Gould [66.9]

Stuart Swales was first away followed by Paul Gould. Peter Carr was sandwiched on the first bend and was left well behind. Pedersen passed Paul Gould for a maximum.

(5-1) (19-11)

Heat 6: Kenny McKinna, Brent Werner, Blair Scott, Malcolm Hogg [66.6]

McKinna and Scott gated although Werner did manage to pass Scott on the first lap, Monarchs gained a first heat advantage.

(2-4) (21-15)

Heat 7: Kevin Little, Jesper Olsen, Robert Larsen [Awarded]

Little gated ahead of Olsen and Larsen. Olsen tried everything to pass Little and was not aided by partner Birkinshaw who fell at the back as the leaders were entering to last lap. The race was stopped and awarded to Little.

(2-4) (23-19)

Heat 8: Paul Gould, James Birkinshaw, Jonathan Swales [68.7]

Newcastle replaced Hogg with Birkinshaw. Edinburgh also made a reserve replacement bringing in Scott for Campbell. This seemed to have ensured a 5-1 as Gould and Scott were team riding well ahead of the home pairing. Then on the last bend Scott suffere d an engine failure gifting a shared heat to Newcastle.

(3-3) (26-22)

Heat 9: Kenny McKinna, Nicki Pedersen, Stuart Swales, Blair Scott [66.0]

McKinna made another fine start and resisted all attempts by Pedersen to pass him.

(3-3) (29-25)

Heat 10: Brent Werner, Robert Larsen, Kevin Little, Malcolm Hogg 67.1]

Larsen gated ahead of Werner and Little. Eventually Werner shook off Little and chased Larsen very hard passing him entering the final lap after the Dane had lost ground through lifting on the back straight.

(3-3) (32-28)

Heat 11: Jesper Olsen, Peter Carr, Paul Gould, James Birkinshaw [65.7]

Olsen gated from Carr and Gould and so it finished.

(3-3) (35-31)

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, Kenny McKinna, Peter Carr, Brent Werner [66.0]

In the big guns race, Olsen gated while Werner was blocked out at the back for another shared heat.

(3-3) (42-36)

Heat 14: Blair Scott, Stuart Swales, Robert Larsen, James Birkinshaw [68.1]

Edinburgh replaced Campbell with Scott. Blair gated ahead of Larsen and Swales and had no difficulty holding off the latter.

(2-4) (44-40)