Stoke Potters 40 : Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs 50

Stoke are back with a new promotion and a revised line-up. The evidence of this match suggests that further changes will be needed when the new averages come in to produce a competitive team. Edinburgh won without even looking very convincing after a meeting that had moments of entertainment but suffered from too many falls on a fiery track and too many exclusions by a trigger happy referee.

Edinburgh were at full strength while Stoke unveiled their new side, or at least six of them. Former captain Chris Cobby, who is to rejoin the Potters missed this fixture due to holiday commitments. Neil Collins was joined at heat leader by former Monarchs Jarno Kosonen and Stewart McDonald. Paul Pickering and Mark Burrows were at second string. Buxton junior Neil Painter filled in for Cobby and rode at reserve with Dean Felton.

The crowd appeared healthy although a large umber sported the colours of Edinburgh Monarchs. The track looked very difficult in the early stages but settled down. Edinburgh won the toss and opted for gates 1 and 3 in the first heat.

Heat 1: Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Marcus Andersson [63.1]

Carr gated ahead of Collins and won without trouble. Andersson held off Burrows until Buzz characteristically hit the last bend fence.

(2-4) (2-4)

Heat 2: Dean Felton, Blair Scott, Steven Jones [64.9]

In the first attempt, there was a pile up at the first bend in which Neil Painter was excluded and taken off with a broken collarbone. In the re-run, Felton lifted at the start allowing Scott to get away but surged past on the back straight to win by a big margin. Steven Jones limped home after falling. (3-3) (5-7)

Heat 3: Kevin Little, Jarno Kosonen, Robert Larsen [64.4]

Pickering was excluded here for pushing Larsen into the second bend fence after Kosonen gated. Jarno again made the gate in the re-run but was passed by Kevin Little.

(2-4) (7-11)

Heat 4: Kenny McKinna, Dean Felton, Stewart McDonald, Steven Jones [64.0]

Kenny McKinna surged ahead at the gate followed by McDonald. Stewart later dropped back allowing Felton through but stayed ahead of Jones.

(3-3) (10-14)

Heat 5: Peter Carr, Marcus Andersson, Dean Felton [64.6]

First Jarno Kosonen was excluded for taping, then in the re-run, Pickering stopped with engine failure. Carr and Andersson picked up a maximum ahead of Dean Felton, the replacement for Kosonen.

(1-5) (11-19)

Heat 6: Mark Burrows, Neil Collins, Blair Scott [64.0]

Another first band pile-up with McKinna excluded this time. McKinna walked back looking very dazed while Neil Collins went back in the ambulance. Amazingly, Collins was fit for the re-run after a check up and partnered Burrows to a maximum.

(5-1) (16-20)

Heat 7: Kevin Little, Robert Larsen, Dean Felton, Stewart McDonald [64.5]

Larsen gated and was joined by Little who took over in front. Dean Felton, a reserve change for Painter, pressed Larsen into the last bend and appeared to have forced his way inside on the last bend until Larsen picked up extra drive to win on the line.

(1-5) (17-25)

Heat 8: Marcus Andersson, Paul Pickering, Steven Jones [64.6]

Stoke put in Paul Pickering as tactical substitute for the overworked Dean Felton. Mark Burrows was excluded for tape touching. No replacement was allowed because Painter was injured and Felton had already been subbed. Marcus Andersson had a good win over Pickering and Jones.

(2-4) (19-29)

Heat 9: Kenny McKinna, Paul Pickering, Blair Scott, Jarno Kosonen [64.7]

There was some concern if McKinna would be able to continue after suffering a slipped disc in Heat 6. There was an 'is there an osteopath in the house appeal' over the tannoy. He did appear and rode very well to barge Paul Pickering out of the way on the fourth bend after being outgated.

(2-4) (21-33)

Heat 10: Neil Collins, Kevin Little, Mark Burrows, Robert Larsen [62.9]

A good win for Collins over Little with Burrows coming third ahead of Larsen for a rare Stoke heat advantage.

(4-2) (25-35)

Heat 11: Peter Carr, Mark Burrows, Marcus Andersson [63.4]

Another heat advantage for the Carr/Andersson partnership with tactical substitute Mark Burrows slipping them and Stewart McDonald falling.

(2-4) (27-39)

Heat 12: Kevin Little, Jarno Kosonen, Dean Felton, Blair Scott [63.8]

Kevin Little had another excellent ride to win ahead of the Stoke duo.

(3-3) (30-42)

Heat 13: Kenny McKinna, Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Dean Felton [63.2]

Dean Felton came in as a reserve change for McDonald. Kenny McKinna had a real flyer from the gate and clinched the Monarchs win backed up by Carr.

(1-5) (31-47)

Heat 14: Paul Pickering, Neil Collins, Robert Larsen, Blair Scott [64.3]

With Neil Collins replacing Painter as a tactical substitute, the Monarchs duo found themselves up against the Stoke top two. After a first bend pile-up, the referee, for once, called all four back. This proved an easy home maximum and was only enlivened by a battle between Larsen and Scott for third place. This was won by Larsen on the line after Scott had led the way for most of the way.

(5-1) (36-48)

Heat 15: Paul Pickering, Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Kevin Little [63.3]

Pickering made the gate from gate 3 followed by Collins. Carr managed to force his way past Collins but could make no impression on Pickering. Little fell when trailing and restarted. (4-2) (40-50)