Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 54: Arena Essex Hammers 36
Premier League Cup Final: First Leg
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Saturday 25th September 1999
Edinburgh took a commanding lead in the first leg of the Cup Final at Armadale. This was despite being reduced to effectively a five-man team by the end of heat 2. Brian Turner, who made a shock comeback, pulled out on the first lap of the reserves’ race with pain in his suspect wrist. Justin Elkins was also recalled after injury and while he suffered no apparent reaction. His bike was no healthier than before!
Despite these handicaps, Edinburgh had little disposing of the full strength Arena Essex side for whom only Gary Corbett and, to an extent, Leigh Lanham performed up to expectations.
The track was in good condition despite the heavy rain on Friday.
Monarchs’ Captain Kevin Little actually won the toss! Gate position A was in used with Edinburgh off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Gary Corbett, Leigh Lanham, Justin Elkins [58.5]
Justin Elkins made the start but again slowed down by the first bend but later got going again. James Grieves swept ahead but was closely pursued by Corbett throughout.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, John Wainwright, Matt Read [60.2]
Brian Turner made a poor start and pulled out early on. Blair Scott came around from gate 4 to lead by the third bend and won by a big margin.
(3-3) (6-6)
Heat 3: Kevin Little, Ross Brady, Troy Pratt, Roger Lobb [59.3]
Brady and Little made the start and had no problems in winning.
(5-1) (11-7)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Colin White, Matt Read [58.6]
Blair Scott made a great start and followed Carr, holding back Colin White superbly.
(5-1) (16-8)
Heat 5: Ross Brady, Gary Corbett, Leigh Lanham, Kevin Little [59.8]
Kevin Little gated and did his best to hold back Corbett while Ross Brady blasted around the outside. Little slipped up on the third bend allowing Corbett through but Brady blasted around the outside on bend four to take the lead. Little was now sandwiched between Corbett and Lanham and was eventually picked off by the Arena number 1.
(3-3) (19-11)
Heat 6: James Grieves, Colin White, John Wainwright [59.9]
Colin White made the start with Elkins in close attendance behind him. Grieves swept into contention as Elkins again slowed down prior to retiring. James Grieves never gave up and passed White on the home straight.
(3-3) (22-14)
Heat 7: Blair Scott, Peter Carr, Troy Pratt, Roger Lobb [59.3]
Blair Scott produced another superb start and team rode with Carr to another maximum.
(5-1) (27-15)
Heat 8: Leigh Lanham, Gary Corbett, Blair Scott, Justin Elkins [59.7]
Justin Elkins came out on Peter Carr’s bike. Leigh Lanham came in for Matt Read as a tactical substitute. Blair Scott made a dreadful start and with Elkins looking very uncomfortable on borrowed equipment, this presented Arena Essex with a maximum despite the efforts of Scott to get back on terms.
(1-5) (28-20)
Heat 9: Colin White, Kevin Little, Ross Brady [59.9]
Colin White had a great second bend pushing Ross Brady wide and effectively out of contention. Little tried to get on terms but made no progress. John Wainwright made a good start but fell on the third bend.
(3-3) (31-23)
Heat 10: James Grieves, Colin White, Troy Pratt [60.0]
Colin White was used as a tactical substitute for Lobb and gated from James Grieves and Justin Elkins. Elkins, back on his own bike rode well to keep Pratt at the back for two laps before the inevitable engine failure. Grieves gradually pulled back the deficit on White and pulled off the most stunning last gasp pass to take the heat.
(3-3) (34-26)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Leigh Lanham, Blair Scott, Gary Corbett [58.3]
Carr won without any difficulty but Blair Scott was impeded when Gary Corbett locked up in front of him on the second bend. Blair recovered to pass Corbett but Lanham was way ahead and out of reach.
(4-2) (38-28)
Heat 12: Blair Scott, Kevin Little, John Wainwright [61.3]
Matt Read came in for Wainwright to complete his third ride. Little and Scott missed the start but Little was soon leading and Blair Scott passed Read to take second on the third bend. As Scott passed, Read fell and appeared to be hit by Troy Pratt. The race was stopped and Read excluded. Troy Pratt retired from the meeting and was replaced in the rerun by Wainwright. This provided a very easy maximum for Scott and Little.
(5-1) (43-29)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Leigh Lanham, Colin White [57.8]
Carr and Grieves missed the start but Carr cut inside and hit the third bend ahead. Grieves produced another stunning pass of Lanham to put Monarchs 18 points ahead.
(5-1) (48-30)
Heat 14: Gary Corbett, Ross Brady, Roger Lobb, Blair Scott [61.4]
Ross Brady gated with Blair Scott stuck at the back behind tactical substitute Corbett and Lobb. Despite trying everything around the outside he was unable to get past the team-riding Arena pair. He did get past Lobb once but was blocked by Corbett and Lobb came back. Ross Brady had his engine blow as he approached the flag. He clearly passed the line a yard ahead of Corbett but inexplicably the referee gave the decision to the Arena youngster.
(2-4) (50-34)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Leigh Lanham, James Grieves, Colin White [57.9]
Carr blasted ahead from gate 2 but Grieves was at the back following a mediocre start from gate 4. Grieves chased White and eventually passed but hadn’t enough time to get on terms with Lanham. This left Monarchs one point short of their 55 point target.
(4-2) (54-36)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
1 |
|
|
12+2 |
|
Justin Elkins |
0 |
R |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
0 |
2 |
2* |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
2* |
3 |
1* |
2 |
|
|
|
8+2 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
2* |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
14+1 |
|
Brian Turner |
R |
N |
N |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
2* |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
13+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arena Essex Hammers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Leigh Lanham |
1* |
1* |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
10+2 |
|
Gary Corbett |
2 |
2 |
2* |
0 |
3 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Troy Pratt |
1 |
1 |
1* |
N |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
Roger Lobb |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Colin White |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
8 |
|
John Wainwright |
2 |
1* |
R |
1 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Matt Read |
1* |
0 |
X |
|
|
|
|
1+1 |
The Monarchs top five were in irresistible form. Carr had a paid maximum and was never in any danger. James Grieves made only one start but produced some breathtaking passes, three on Colin White and one on Leigh Lanham. Grieves dropped only one point, while Brady dropped only two points (one of those was a bit dodgy). Kevin Little had only one bad ride slipping from first to last in heat 5 and apart from that dropped only one point to White. Blair Scott turned in yet another match-winning performance from reserve and dropped only three points (two to Lanham and one to Corbett) prior to running 4th in his last ride.
Gary Corbett was the star rider for Arena Essex although he was a bit fortunate to be given heat 8. Leigh Lanham did reasonably well but twice beat a Monarchs’ heat leader. Colin White was rather disappointing after his good show at Armadale three weeks back. Troy Pratt failed to make any starts and crashed out of the meeting in heat 12. Roger Lobb may as well have gone to his sister’s wedding but he did score a point off the tiring Blair Scott in heat 14. Things didn’t happen for Matt Read while John Wainwright picked up gift points courtesy of Brian Turner and Justin Elkins.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: James Grieves
Next meeting: v Exeter, Young Shield, Armadale on Friday 1st October 1999
John Lowe