Premier League Cup: Northern Group Qualifier
Loomer Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Saturday 28th March 1998
Edinburgh opened their defence of the Premier League Cup at Loomer Road. Peter Carr failed to come through his fitness test and Mick Powell again deputized. This proved crucial in the final outcome as Mick Powell was only able to score 6+1 points from six rides. In the corresponding fixture last year, Stoke won 64-44 and Peter Carr scored a 15-point maximum.
Since Stoke appear to be a fairly strong side it was rather frustrating to get so close with a weakened side and yet fail to take anything away from the fixture.
Heat 1: Neil Collins, Paul Gould, Mick Powell, Mark Burrows [65.9]
Neil Collins won from the gate to the flag.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Dean Felton, Barry Campbell, Rob Clarence [63.4]
Blair Scott won this race but was subsequently disqualified (two races later) for a silencer infringement. This reversed the initially awarded 4-2 to Edinburgh. Monarchs never succeeded in getting in front after this set-back.
(4-2) (7-5)
Heat 3: Paul Pickering, Robert Larsen, Kevin Little, Martin Dixon [64.1]
(3-3) (10-8)
Heat 4: Kenny McKinna, Richard Juul, Rob Clarence, Barry Campbell [62.8]
Barry Campbell held a comfortable third before slowing and turning his fuel on, a lapse that cost a point.
(3-3) (13-11)
Heat 5: Martin Dixon, Mick Powell, Paul Pickering, Paul Gould [63.8]
Dixon and Pickering looked set for a maximum until Powell powered under Pickering on the third bend.
(4-2) (17-13)
Heat 6: Kenny McKinna, Neil Collins, Mark Burrows, Blair Scott [63.2]
(3-3) (20-16)
Heat 7: Rob Clarence, Kevin Little, Richard Juul, Robert Larsen [64.3]
Dean Felton was excluded under the two minutes rule and Rob Clarence came in and made a start although pursued relentlessly by Kevin Little. Richard Juul attempting to get on terms with Little also had his work cut out to fend off the aggressive Robert Larsen.
(4-2) (24-18)
Heat 8: Paul Gould, Mark Burrows, Barry Campbell [65.4]
Rob Clarence was excluded for tape touching and Dean Felton came in but retired through engine failure. Mark Burrows managed to split the Edinburgh pairing.
(2-4) (26-22)
Heat 9: Kenny McKinna, Martin Dixon, Blair Scott, Paul Pickering [63.4]
McKinna and Scott cut the lead to two points with a second successive Monarchs heat advantage.
(2-4) (28-26)
Heat 10: Neil Collins, Robert Larsen, Mark Burrows, Kevin Little [62.8]
Neil Collins gated while Mark Burrows battled to get past the Larsen/Little partnership. Burrows managed to pass Little who tried to force his way under Burrows on the third lap but nearly fell off on the first bend of the last lap.
(4-2) (32-28)
Heat 11: Richard Juul, Mick Powell, Paul Gould, Dean Felton [62.9]
(3-3) (35-31)
Heat 12: Martin Dixon, Kevin Little, Rob Clarence, Blair Scott [64.3]
Dixon and Clarence stretched the Stoke lead to six points.
(4-2) (39-33)
Heat 13: Kenny McKinna, Neil Collins, Richard Juul [63.2]
Mick Powell was excluded after tangling with Neil Collins. McKinna won the re-run to keep Monarchs in in a shout.
(3-3) (42-36)
Heat 14: Paul Pickering, Robert Larsen, Barry Campbell, Dean Felton [64.4]
Pickering had a flying start to ensure a Potters match victory by beating Larsen and Campbell.
(3-3) (45-39)
Heat 15: Kenny McKinna, Neil Collins, Mick Powell, Martin Dixon [63.7]
McKinna completed his full maximum and with Powell cut the Stoke lead back to 4 points with the aggregate match point in mind.
(2-4) (47-43)
| Stoke Signal Radio Potters | |||||||
| Neil Collins | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
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| Mark Burrows | 0 | 1* | 2 | 1 |
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| Martin Dixon | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
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| Paul Pickering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
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| Richard Juul | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1* |
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| Dean Felton | 3 | M | E | 0 | 0 |
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| Rob Clarence | 1 | 1* | 3 | T | 1 |
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| Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs | |||||||
| Mick Powell | 1* | 2 | 2 | X | 1 |
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| Paul Gould | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1* |
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| Kevin Little | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
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| Robert Larsen | 1* | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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| Kenny McKinna | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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| Blair Scott | X | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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| Barry Campbell | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1* |
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Obviously the absence of Peter Carr was crucial, and he was sure to have picked up more than Mick?s six, not that any blame attaches to Monarchs' guest who had done so well the previous night. But taking a balanced view of the evenin g, there were more encouraging signs than discouraging ones as Monarchs came pretty close over the last few races.
Kenny was magnificent, scoring his second successive Stoke maximum. His strength was using the drive off the second turn, hitting it perfectly every time and pulling clear of the opposition in each of his races.
Paul had an excellent meeting, including a fine win in heat 8, and Robert came good with two seconds late on. His scoring is well in excess of his average.
Kevin?s gating was again a bit suspect but he took three second places, diving past Dickson in one, and being caught round the first turn in heat 7 by Rob Clarence who led all the way to show his talent. Whoever you support, it?s good to see the youngs ters making such progress.
Man of this match: Kenny McKinna.
Next meeting: Premiership second leg v Reading away 30th March 1998.
John Lowe and Mike Hunter