First Test
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 12 June 1998
Scotland won an excellent match against the England Under-21 team at Armadale. The narrowness of the margin reflected the even balance between the two teams. It could have been wider had Scotland manager Bert Harkins not made a disastrous gamble in bringing in the unattached Stewart McDonald. Big Mac, riding on borrowed equipment, was never on the pace and finished pointless.
England went with their top heat leaders in Scott Nicholls, Leigh Lanham and Lee Richardson. André Compton and Paul Lee were at second string and Grant MacDonald joined John Wilson at reserve. David Howe was unavailable due to 'O-Level' commitments. Scotland selected Kenny McKinna, James Grieves and Scott Lamb as heat leaders, Kevin Little and Stewart McDonald at second string and Blair Scott and Barry Campbell at reserve.
The weather was warm and sunny for a change!
Kenny McKinna won the toss and opted for gates 1 and 3 in the first heat.
Heat 1: Kenny McKinna, Kevin Little, Leigh Lanham, Paul Lee [57.8]
McKinna gated ahead of Lanham and Little. After a tussle lasting over a lap between Lanham and Little, in which the riders made contact, Little managed to edge past to give a perfect start for Scotland.
(5-1) (5-1)
Heat 2: Grant MacDonald, Barry Campbell, Blair Scott [58.3]
Barry Campbell made a great start and led with Blair Scott struggling at the back. John Wilson spun of the third bend and caused the race to be stopped and was excluded. MacDonald gated in the rerun and while Campbell managed to pass him towards the end of the first lap, MacDonald came back and passed Campbell on the second bend.
(3-3) (8-4)
Heat 3: James Grieves, Lee Richardson, André Compton, Stewart MacDonald [58.1]
McDonald made a fair start but was soon trailing the English pair and fell whilst last. Neither came near to James Grieves who ensured another tied heat.
(3-3) (11-7)
Heat 4: Scott Nicholls, Scott Lamb, Barry Campbell [58.3]
Scott Lamb was marginally ahead going down the back straight but Scott Nicholls seized on a small positional error to pass. Scott Lamb never gave up but was unable to get back on terms. John Wilson fell in the same spot as before and retired when last.
(3-3) (14-10)
Heat 5: James Grieves, Leigh Lanham, Paul Lee, Stewart McDonald [57.6]
Grieves and McDonald gated but Stewart was passed simultaneously by Lanham and Lee, one on either side going down the home straight. James Grieves won again.
(3-3) (17-13)
Heat 6: Kenny McKinna, Scott Nicholls, Kevin Little, Grant MacDonald [58.1]
McKinna and Little gated but the aggressive Nicholls passed Little but could make no impression on McKinna.
(4-2) (21-15)
Heat 7: Lee Richardson, Scott Lamb, André Compton, Blair Scott [57.7]
Scott Lamb gated but went rather too wide coming out of the fourth bend allowing Lee Richardson to pass on the inside. Blair Scott missed the gate and trailed.
(2-4) (23-19)
Heat 8: Paul Lee, Kevin Little, Barry Campbell, John Wilson [57.9]
Paul Lee made a fast start and Little was unable to get on terms. John Wilson fell (again!) when second.
(3-3) (26-22)
Heat 9: James Grieves, Scott Nicholls, Grant MacDonald [57.9]
James Grieves inflicted another defeat on Nicholls as Stewart McDonald trailed and fell once more.
(3-3) (29-25)
Heat 10: Kenny McKinna, André Compton, Kevin Little, Lee Richardson [58.5]
McKinna tangled with Richardson and ended up in the second bend fence. The referee judged it to be first bend bunching and invited all back. McKinna gated and won from Compton with Richardson stuck at the back after falling when third.
(4-2) (33-27)
Heat 11: Scott Lamb, Leigh Lanham, Blair Scott [59.1]
Scott lamb recorded his first race win from Lanham and Scott. Paul Lee fell on the last bend when last.
(4-2) (37-29)
Heat 12: James Grieves, Lee Richardson, Barry Campbell [58.1]
England brought in Scott Nicholls for Grant MacDonald as a tactical substitute. Grieves gated once more and Scott Nicholls fell on the third bend trying to get past. (4-2) (41-31)
Heat 13: Scott Nicholls, Kenny McKinna, Leigh Lanham, Scot Lamb [58.1]
Scott Nicholls gained some revenge for his defeat in Heat 6 by beating McKinna from the back.
(2-4) (43-35)
Heat 14: Blair Scott, Lee Richardson, André Compton, Stewart McDonald [59.9]
Richardson came in for Wilson as a tactical substitute. This failed to pay-off as Blair Scott gated and held on for a (near) match winning victory. Stewart McDonald (on Kenny McKinna's bike) made a good start but was passed easily by the English pair. (3-3) (46-38)
Heat 15: Leigh Lanham, Kevin Little, André Compton, Scott Lamb [59.2]
While Lanham and Compton secured an English heat advantage, Kevin Little took second to secure the Scots win. (2-4) (48-42)
Heat 16: James Grieves, Lee Richardson, Scott Nicholls, Kenny McKinna [58.7]
Grieves duly completed his maximum with McKinna stuck at the back.
(3-3) (51-45)
|
Scotland |
|
|
|
||||
|
Kenny McKinna |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
11 |
|
Kevin Little |
2* |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
6+1 |
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
Scott Lamb |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
7 |
|
Blair Scott |
1* |
0 |
1 |
3 |
5+1 |
||
Barry Campbell |
2 |
1* |
1 |
1 |
|
|
5+2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
England Under-21 |
|||||||
Leigh Lanham |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
Paul Lee |
0 |
1* |
3 |
F |
|
4 |
|
|
Lee Richardson |
2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
|
André Compton |
1* |
1 |
2 |
1* |
1 |
|
6+2 |
|
Scott Nicholls |
3 |
2 |
2 |
F |
3 |
1* |
11+1 |
|
Grant MacDonald |
3 |
0 |
1* |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
John Wilson |
X |
F |
0 |
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Nicholls never turned out to be the dominant figure that many expected. His gating was not good and his two race wins were hard fought and both came from the back. Richardson and Lanham performed up to expectations. Lee and Compton both improved on some dismal Armadale performances. Grant MacDonald also did himself justice. John Wilson gated well but could not ride the third bend.
James Grieves WAS the dominant figure and never looked like being beaten. McKinna faded after a very bright start. Scott Lamb has never been a big scorer at Armadale and this match was no exception. Little did OK despite being beaten by Paul Lee and André Compton. Both Campbell and Scott made good starts to their international careers. Stewart McDonald was the major disappointment. He made three starts but was way off the pace and passed too easily. He looked ill-at-ease on borrowed machinery that was probably not set-up to suit his style.
Man of the match: James Grieves
For the Berwick leg, England will be without Scott Nicholls but will have David Howe. A big win for England beckons unless McDonald can get among the points or is dropped. Lanham and Richardson will both be likely to get big scores.
Next Leg: Shielfield Park, Berwick Saturday, 13th June 1998
John Lowe