Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 59: Exeter Falcons 31
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 2nd July 1999
Edinburgh chalked up another crushing Armadale win over an Exeter side that were probably strengthened rather than weakened by injuries. Monarchs top four only dropped two points all evening both to Neil Collins as Grieves and Carr chalked up untroubled maximums.
Edinburgh were again without Kevin Little and David McAllan and replaced them with Brent Werner and Jon Swales. Exeter were missing heat leaders Mark Simmons and Peter Jeffery. They used Neil Collins as a guest for Simmons and used rider replacement for Jeffery. They also used Stuart Coleman at number 8. The weather was warm and although it was always threatening to rain.
The track again had plenty of dirt but much was out wide. The track proved quite tricky although only one rider fell.
Gate position A was in used with Edinburgh off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Neil Collins, Stewart McDonald, Graeme Gordon [57.6]
Neil Collins came in as rider replacement and after challenging Grieves through the first and second bends but eventually was seen off.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, Jon Swales, Gary Lobb, Wayne Barrett [61.9]
Blair Scott made a poor start but wasted little time in surging to the front by the third bend. Jon Swales threaded his way through from the back and after chasing Lobb for a couple of laps capitalized on a mistake to take second place on the last lap.
(5-1) (9-3)
Heat 3: Brent Werner, Ross Brady, Chris Harris [59.1]
Michael Coles appeared to shed a chain at the start line. This allowed Werner and Brady an easy maximum against Chris Harris.
(5-1) (14-4)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Blair Scott, Gary Lobb [57.9]
Neil Collins had a real go at Peter Carr from the start but was just edged out on the exit from the second bend. He continued to chase as Blair Scott took a clear third place ahead of the struggling Gary Lobb.
(4-2) (18-6)
Heat 5: Ross Brady, Brent Werner, Graeme Gordon, Chris Harris [59.1]
Brady and Werner surged ahead of Gordon and rider replacement Harris. Brady won despite giving the home supporters a few anxious moments especially with a slip on the last bend.
(5-1) (23-7)
Heat 6: James Grieves, Neil Collins, Stewart McDonald, Wayne Barrett [58.6]
A routine win for Grieves ahead of Collins and McDonald.
(4-2) (27-9)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Michael Coles, Chris Harris, Jon Swales [58.2]
Michael Coles was first away from gate 1 but Peter Carr cut inside and passed Coles on the back straight. Jon Swales held third place but Chris Harris produced a good pass to tie the heat after Coles dropped back.
(3-3) (30-12)
Heat 8: Michael Coles, Graeme Gordon, Blair Scott, Stewart McDonald [59.6]
Michael Coles came in as a tactical substitute for Gary Lobb. Coles gated followed by Scott and Gordon with McDonald stuck at the back after a poor start. Gordon the produced a good pass of Scott to clock up a maximum for the visitors.
(1-5) (31-17)
Heat 9: Ross Brady, Neil Collins, Brent Werner, Wayne Barrett [59.9]
(4-2) (35-19)
Heat 10: James Grieves, Michael Coles, Stewart McDonald, Chris Harris [59.5]
Grieves outgated Coles and held on for an easy win. McDonald was clear in third until he made a mistake and lost a little ground to Chris Harris. Going into the last bend, Harris made a final surge to pass McDonald but slid into the fence.
(4-2) (39-21)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Graeme Gordon, Blair Scott, Gary Lobb [58.2]
Monarchs swopped reserves bringing in Blair Scott while Exeter used Gary Lobb as rider replacement. Peter Carr won while the ever improving Gordon held off Blair Scott for second
(4-2) (43-23)
Heat 12: Brent Werner, Michael Coles, Chris Harris, Jon Swales [59.8]
Monarchs brought in Jon Swales for Blair Scott. Brent Werner had a good win over Michael Coles. Swales never gave up pushing tactical substitute Chris Harris all the way.
(3-3) (46-26)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Neil Collins, Graeme Gordon [58.1]
Exeter used Graeme Gordon as rider replacement. Grieves and Carr took a maximum with contemptuous ease.
(5-1) (51-27)
Heat 14: Neil Collins, Ross Brady, Blair Scott, Chris Harris [59.4]
Exeter played their last card bringing in Neil Collins as a tactical substitute for Lobb. Collins won to deny Ross Brady his first paid maximum.
(3-3) (54-30)
Heat 15: James Grieves, Peter Carr, Michael Coles, Neil Collins [59.4]
Grieves and Carr did a repeat performance of heat 13 ahead of Coles and Collins this time.
(5-1) (59-31)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Brent Werner |
3 |
2* |
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
9+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
2* |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
10+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
2* |
|
|
13+2 |
|
Jon Swales |
2* |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exeter Falcons |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Peter Jeffery |
Rider replacement |
(2) |
||||||
|
Graeme Gordon |
0 |
1 |
2* |
2 |
0 |
|
|
5+1 |
|
Michael Coles |
R |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
10 |
|
Chris Harris |
1 |
0 |
1 |
F |
1* |
0 |
|
3+1 |
|
Neil Collins |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
|
Wayne Barrett |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Gary Lobb |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Stuart Coleman |
Did not ride |
|
||||||
The Monarchs top four totally dominated the meeting with Grieves and Carr unstoppable. Werner proved to be an excellent guest. Ross Brady looked impressive after his recent Armadale masterclass with Peter Carr.
Stewart McDonald had a poor ride in heat 8 but was steady in his other rides. Blair Scott scored consistently despite never really getting going. After struggling on an upright machine last week, Jon Swales used David McAllan’s bike this week and looked good in heat 2 and had a couple of fascinating struggles with Chris Harris.
Neil Collins and Michael Coles sustained the Exeter effort with help from the much improved Graeme Gordon and the useful looking Chris Harris. The Exeter reserves were totally off the pace.
Man of the match: James Grieves.
Most exciting rider: Neil Collins.
Next meeting: v Stoke, Premier League, Loomer Road on Saturday 3rd July 1999
John Lowe