Sheffield won their match with Edinburgh although the Monarchs were happy to see the Tigers contained to a ten-point margin. Sheffield will obviously think that they should have won by a bigger margin. Two engine failures when in scoring positions cost them points. This could prove crucial when the bonus point is decided in the return leg scheduled for a week on Saturday.

The track became slicker as the meeting went on although there was plenty of opportunity to pass on the outside.

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

Heat 1: Carl Stonehewer, Rene Aas, Peter Carr, Paul Gould [63.1]

Compton was excluded for tape touching and was replaced by Rene Aas. Aas and Stonehewer gated with Carr unable to pass the Estonian.

(5-1) (5-1)

Heat 2: René Aas, Blair Scott, Derrol Keats, Barry Campbell [64.5]

Aas gated ahead of Scott who withstood an early challenge from Keats.

(4-2) (9-3)

Heat 3: Robert Larsen, Kevin Little, Tommy Palmer [65.1]

Steve Knott retired with engine failure when challenging Larsen for the lead. Tommy Palmer was well in arrears.

(1-5) (10-8)

Heat 4: Scott Smith, Kenny McKinna, René Aas, Barry Campbell [64.2]

McKinna gated but passed by Scott Smith on the outside of the fourth bend.

(4-2) (14-10)

Heat 5: Peter Carr, Steve Knott, Tommy Palmer, Paul Gould [63.1]

Carr wins from the start.

(3-3) (17-13)

Heat 6: Carl Stonehewer, Kenny McKinna, André Compton, Blair Scott [64.4]

McKinna gated once more but was passed by Carl Stonehewer on the back straight of the second lap.

(4-2) (21-15)

Heat 7: Scott Smith, Robert Larsen, Kevin Little [Awarded]

Scott Smith leads the race from Larsen while Keats passes Little but locks allowing Little to re-pass. Keats then fell with the leaders approaching the finish line and the race was stopped and awarded

(3-3) (24-18)

Heat 8: René Aas, André Compton, Barry Campbell, Paul Gould [65.9]

As easy win for the team riding home pairing.

(5-1) (29-19)

Heat 9: Kenny McKinna, Peter Carr, Steve Knott, Tommy Palmer [65.8]

Edinburgh brought in Peter Carr for Blair Scott and took a maximum to narrow the margin.

(1-5) (30-24)

Heat 10: Carl Stonehewer, Kevin Little, Robert Larsen, André Compton [65.3]

Stonehewer blasts ahead from a wide line ahead of Little. Larsen blocks Compton to the annoyance of the Sheffield second string.

(3-3) (33-27)

Heat 11: Scott Smith, Peter Carr, Derrol Keats, Blair Scott [65.1]

Scott Smith gated and held off the challenge from Carr while Keats easily stayed ahead of reserve replacement Blair Scott.

(4-2) (37-29)

Heat 12: Robert Larsen, Tommy Palmer, Kevin Little [65.8]

Robert Larsen came in as a tactical substitute for Blair Scott. He led until passed by René Aas who later retired with engine failure.

(2-4) (39-33)

Heat 13: Peter Carr, Scott Smith, Carl Stonehewer, Kenny McKinna [65.1]

A good race won from the gate by Peter Carr while Stonehewer could not pass Scott Smith to mount a challenge.

(3-3) (42-36)

Heat 14: Steve Knott, Robert Larsen, Barry Campbell, Derrol Keats [66.3]

Larsen gated but was passed by Steve Knott. Keats fell at the back and remounted to finish.

(3-3) (45-39)

Heat 15: Carl Stonehewer, Scott Smith, Peter Carr, Robert Larsen [65.2]

Stonehewer and Smith gated and froze out Carr on the first bend.

(5-1) (50-40)

Peter Carr did not match his last performance at Sheffield and seemed reluctant to go out wide when beaten away from the gate. He did inflict defeats on all the home heat leaders. Kenny McKinna gated well but was passed on two occasi ons. Kevin Little picked up points steadily.

Paul Gould had a meeting to forget failing to score. Robert Larsen was the real surprise package with his best score to date. This suggests that he may be much better on the bigger tracks which bodes well for future away matches. Neither Blair Scott no r Barry Campbell made much impact on a track where both had their moments last year.

Carl Stonehewer and Scott Smith were dominant for the home side. Tommy Palmer struggled and only beat Paul Gould and Blair Scott of the visitors.

Steve Knott and André Compton provided useful backing for the top two. René Aas was again the trump card at reserve and perhaps ought to have been given an extra ride. Derrol Keats tried hard, possibly too hard.

Return leg: Saturday 25^th April 1998 at Armadale.

John Lowe (with thanks to Mick Ibbotson for comments)