Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs 61 : Newport Hayley Wasps 29

Lothian Arena, Armadale

Friday 21st August 1998

Edinburgh steamrollered their way to a big victory at Armadale ending Newport's impressive run of wins. The meeting was marred by an injury to Paul Gould after a first bend collision with Scott Pegler in heat 1. Gould was taken to hospital with bruising and tissue dame to his side and arm. The meeting belonged to the Monarchs reserves who had to take Paul's rides as well as their own. Barry Campbell top scored with an incredible paid 21 while Blair Scott was paid for 13 points.

The atmosphere was livened up by the vast numbers of travelling Newport fans. They are surely the noisiest and most enthusiastic followers in British Speedway. This made for an entertaining if one-side meeting with 22 heats of speedway (including a BDL match v Glasgow Tiger Cubs) packed in (almost) before the 10.00pm curfew.

The weather was cool with rain throughout the day. The track was wet and heavy with plenty of dirt in evidence for a change. Edinburgh were at full strength while Newport used Mark Simmons to replace the injured Lawrence Hare after the attempt to draft Jesper Olsen failed. Newport took gates 1 and 3 in heat 1.

Heat 1: Craig Watson, Peter Carr, Blair Scott [58.5]

Craig Watson gated from Carr, while Gould blasted outside of Pegler with Carr looking to cut inside. Scott Pegler then seemed to lose control and took Gould into the fence and bouncing right over it himself. The referee invited all four back but neither Pegler nor Gould were fit with Pegler looking groggy and Gould off to hospital. Blair Scott and Martin Willis came in and the heat was re-run. Watson again made the gate although Willis stopped on the line. Carr patiently tracked Watson and passed him going into the final lap only to slip on the back straight allowing the Australian to re-pass and win.

(3-3) (3-3)

Heat 2: Blair Scott, Barry Campbell, Martin Willis, Chris Neath [60.0]

Blair Scott gated from Willis and Campbell. Campbell soon found a way past Willis for an easy maximum.

(5-1) (8-4)

Heat 3: Kevin Little, Anders Henriksson, Mark Simmons, Marcus Andersson [59.2]

Little and Andersson were first away. Edinburgh's out of form Swede held second place until a slip on the back straight allowed Henriksson through. Henriksson then rode a cleaver tactical race and let Little go while balking Andersson. Eventually, Simmons took advantage and moved into third place and while Andersson cut inside and raced for the line he lost a tight call.

(3-3) (11-7)

Heat 4: Kenny McKinna, Barry Campbell, Paul Fry [59.4]

McKinna made a great start from gate 4 but the race was stopped and Neath was excluded. In the re-run, Paul Fry fell on the second bend but remounted to finish and collect the point on offer.

(5-1) (16-8)

Heat 5: Craig Watson, Kevin Little, Scott Pegler, Marcus Andersson [59.2]

Little was first away from Watson while Andersson fell and remounted. Watson, looking very impressive in the wet, passed Kevin Little to win by some margin and close the gap to six points.

(2-4) (18-12)

Heat 6: Barry Campbell, Peter Carr, Martin Willis, Paul Fry [60.6]

Barry Campbell replaced Paul Gould for this heat and made the gate. Paul Fry fell once more and remounted to finish. Peter Carr trailed Campbell protecting his back for another maximum.

(5-1) (23-13)

Heat 7: Kenny McKinna, Blair Scott, Anders Henriksson [60.0]

McKinna and Scott were well in front when Simmons fell at the back and stayed by the fence causing the race to be stopped. In the re-run, with Simmons excluded, the Monarchs pair repeated their start to win easily.

(5-1) (28-14)

Heat 8: Blair Scott, Barry Campbell, Scott Pegler, Chris Neath [60.7]

Blair Scott replaced Paul Gould and joined fellow reserve Campbell in yet another maximum. Incredibly the two Monarchs reserves had only dropped one point between them in four heats each.

(5-1) (33-15)

Heat 9: Craig Watson, Kevin Little, Marcus Andersson [59.2]

Tactical substitution time with Craig Watson replacing Martin Willis. Little was leading from the two Newport riders with Andersson in close attendance when Fry slewed across the track on the home straight bringing down Andersson. The race was stopped and Fry excluded. In the re-run, Watson made no mistake and won in very good style.

(3-3) (36-18)

Heat 10: Barry Campbell, Peter Carr, Anders Henriksson, Mark Simmons [60.3]

Barry Campbell replaced Paul Gould and by now bristling with confidence helped Carr to yet another maximum.

(5-1) (41-19)

Heat 11: Kenny McKinna, Craig Watson, Blair Scott, Scott Pegler [59.8]

McKinna ended the run of three wins by Craig Watson while Blair Scoot came from behind to take third place.

(4-2) (45-21)

Heat 12: Kevin Little, Barry Campbell, Martin Willis [60.0]

Paul Fry came in as tactical substitute for Mark Simmons but fared no better than earlier rides falling once more. This allowed Barry Campbell to follow Little home and secure a six-ride paid maximum. (5-1) (50-22)

Heat 13: Peter Carr, Craig Watson, Kenny McKinna, Chris Neath [59.4]

Chris Neath came in for the hapless Paul Fry against the Monarchs' big guns. This proved to be another cracking heat with Fry gating and Carr eventually passing him.

(4-2) (54-23)

Heat 14: Barry Campbell, Anders Henriksson, Blair Scott [Awarded]

Barry Campbell replaced Andersson and blasted around the outside to lead by the back straight from Henriksson, tactical substitute Scott Pegler and Blair Scott. Pegler came to grief and was excluded with the race being awarded to Campbell.

(4-2) (58-26)

Heat 15: Peter Carr, Craig Watson, Anders Henriksson, Blair Scott

With Campbell having completed his seven races, Blair Scott joined Peter Carr in the nominated heat. Carr made a good start for once and won without difficulty. Blair Scott attempted to pass Anders Henriksson but had to settle for last.

(3-3) (61-29)

Silver Helmet

Kevin Little (Holder) beat Craig Watson (Challenger) [59.1]

Little made a fast start from gate four with Watson from gate 1 unable to come to terms with the home rider.

Edinburgh's heat leaders were beaten only by Craig Watson. The second strings, though, had a bad time with Andersson off the pace and Paul Gould injured and it was left to the reserves to secure the win and the bonus point. This was reminiscent of their pre-season performances at Armadale in the Spring Trophy against Glasgow and the Premiership versus Reading.

Craig Watson was by far the best of the visitors and became one of the select group of visitors to have beaten Carr, McKinna and Little at Armadale. Having beaten Little in both heat 5 and heat 9, he must have been fancied to take the Silver Helmet but it was not to be. Paul Fry had a torrid time falling three times and being excluded once in four rides. Mark Simmons was never likely to measure up to guesting as heat leader. Only Anders Henriksson provided Watson with real support but he failed to match his double figure score from last season.

Man of the match: Barry Campbell

Most exciting rider: Craig Watson

Next meeting: v Arena Essex at Purfleet, Saturday 22^nd August 1998. 

John Lowe