Glasgow Qfm Tigers 44: Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 46
Premier National Trophy
Saracen Park, Ashfield
Sunday 30th May 1999
Monarchs qualified for the Semi-Finals of the Premier National Trophy with a last gasp win over a determined Glasgow Tigers team. The match was enthralling with superb racing throughout. Monarchs fell ten points behind after nine heats but made a magnificent comeback led by James Grieves, Ross Brady and Kevin Little to win with a last heat decider.
The much-criticized Ashfield track was in great condition apart from a hole in the second bend that a bike and a small rider could be lost in! Alan Bridgett had been called in to advise on preparation and a water bowser was provided by Monarchs.
This match didn’t need any gimmicks like the Golden Double or six lap final heats.
The excitement, the close racing and the dramatic result ensured that this would be a match that will be talked about for years to come. The Edinburgh riders were generally sharper out of the gate but the Glasgow men showed determination to pass.Monarchs were unchanged but Tigers introduced new signing Emiliano Sanchez at number 5. Will Beveridge dropped down to second string and Brian Turner to reserve with the injured Scott Courtney dropping out. Carl Stonehewer guested for Tigers at number 3 in place of the injured Paul Bentley.
Monarchs Captain Kevin Little achieved a rare win of the toss and Gate position B was in used with Glasgow off 2 and 4 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Mick Powell, James Grieves, Will Beveridge, Blair Scott [60.7]
James Grieves was first away and headed Powell for a couple of laps until he allowed Powell to edge inside him and pass. Grieves continued to press and just failed with a surge off the last bend. Will Beveridge had little problems in beating Blair Scott to give Tigers an early lead.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Brian Turner, David McAllan, Stewart McDonald [Awarded]
Brian Turner had the drop on David McAllan from the start with Stewart McDonald left at the back. McDonald chased and passed Stuart Coleman who then fell on the fourth bend of the third lap causing the race to be stopped and awarded.
(3-3) (7-5)
Heat 3: Kevin Little, Carl Stonehewer, Ross Brady, Sean Courtney [61.5]
Kevin Little edged out Carl Stonehewer at the start and held off all attempts by England squad member to pass. Meanwhile Ross Brady made a great pass on Sean Courtney to level the scores.
(2-4) (9-9)
Heat 4: Emiliano Sanchez, Stewart McDonald, Stuart Coleman [62.7]
This looked like a maximum for Monarchs as Carr and McDonald surged ahead from the gate but Sanchez pressurized McDonald who got into trouble on the second bend and Sanchez surged past. Peter Carr then pulled up when well ahead to gift Tigers the lead.
(4-2) (13-11)
Heat 5: James Grieves, Carl Stonehewer, Sean Courtney [61.1]
Stonehewer and Courtney both made good starts from the inside gates but Grieves made a tremendous sweep around the outside to take the lead coming out of the second bend. Blair Scott retired when well adrift.
(3-3) (16-14)
Heat 6: Mick Powell, Will Beveridge, Peter Carr, David McAllan [61.6]
Peter Carr came out on Ross Brady’s bike, made a slow start and was unable to get past Beveridge.
(5-1) (21-15)
Heat 7: Emiliano Sanchez, Kevin Little, Brian Turner [62.1]
Little was first away but hit trouble on the second bend as Sanchez came through. Ross Brady retired after trailing.
(4-2) (25-17)
Heat 8: James Grieves, Will Beveridge, Stewart McDonald, Stuart Coleman [62.3]
James Grieves came in as a tactical substitute for Blair Scott. Stewart McDonald came in third to cut the lead back to six points.
(2-4) (27-21)
Heat 9: Carl Stonehewer, Sean Courtney, Kevin Little [62.2]
Monarchs put in Kevin Little for David McAllan as a tactical substitute. This was surprising with Stonehewer lining up. It proved to be a memorable heat as Carr led from Stonehewer trying everything to get past. For a lap they were riding side by side. At the back there was a similar struggle between Courtney and Little with the Monarchs captain drawing level on several occasions but unable to get past. Then with a dreadful anticlimax, Carr pulled up with another engine failure gifting another heat advantage tom Glasgow and a ten point lead.
(5-1) (32-22)
Heat 10: Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Will Beveridge [62.3]
Monarchs were now staring down the barrel. Apart from the ten-point lead, Monarchs had blown two tactical substitutions and faced the strong pairing of Powell and Beveridge. This turned out to be another cracker with Powell leading from Brady with Little ahead of Beveridge. The pendulum of fate swung in Monarchs’ favour as Powell with Brady breathing down his neck stopped with a loud bang giving Monarchs a lifeline.
(1-5) (33-27)
Heat 11: James Grieves, Emiliano Sanchez, Blair Scott, Brian Turner [61.8]
Grieves demonstrated his superiority with another easy win from Sanchez. Blair Scott produced a determined ride heading Turner from the gate and repassed after the Glasgow reserve passed him. The margin was cut to four points.
(2-4) (35-31)
Heat 12: Carl Stonehewer, Kevin Little, David McAllan, Brian Turner [61.8]
Glasgow were obviously stung and brought in Brian Turner for the struggling Stuart Coleman. Little was first away with Stonehewer on his exhaust pipe. McAllan outgated Brian Turner and found the line to stay ahead. When it seemed that a further Monarchs heat advantage was on the cards, Stonehewer produced a magnificent pass. He chased Little through the fourth bend and found the line to surge past on the home straight.
(3-3) (38-34)
Heat 13: James Grieves, Emiliano Sanchez, Mick Powell [62.0]
Peter Carr came out on Kevin Little’s bike this time. Mick Powell was on Sean Courtney’s machine. Grieves and Carr made the start but Carr came to grief on the second bend. The race was stopped with Carr excluded but apparently uninjured. Grieves won the restart easily with Powell well behind in third.
(3-3) (41-37)
Heat 14: Ross Brady, Stewart McDonald, Sean Courtney, Brian Turner [63.6]
The match really came alive as Brady and McDonald burst ahead from the gate. While Sean Courtney pressurized McDonald for a lap or so, the result was never rally in doubt and the scores were level into the last heat.
(1-5) (42-42)
Heat 15: James Grieves, Carl Stonehewer, Kevin Little, Emiliano Sanchez [61.7]
Monarchs won the toss for choice of gate and put Grieves in trap 4 and Little in 2. Glasgow used Stonehewer and Sanchez. Grieves made another fast start followed by Little. Stonehewer came back strongly but took some time to get past Little and Grieves was never going to be caught.
(2-4) (44-46)
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
||||
|
Mick Powell |
3 |
3 |
E |
1* |
7 |
||
|
Will Beveridge |
1 |
2* |
2 |
1 |
|
|
6+1 |
|
Carl Stonehewer |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
12 |
|
|
Sean Courtney |
0 |
1* |
2* |
1 |
|
|
4+2 |
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
10 |
|
Brian Turner |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
4 |
|
Stuart Coleman |
F |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
17 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
R |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2* |
2 |
1 |
11+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
1 |
R |
3 |
3 |
|
|
7 |
|
Peter Carr |
R |
1 |
R |
X |
|
1 |
|
|
David McAllan |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
1* |
2 |
1 |
2* |
|
|
6+2 |
Peter Carr had a torrid time suffering an engine failure when leading his first race. He then struggled on borrowed equipment in his second race and stopped again when leading his third and fell in his fourth. Fortunately for Monarchs, James Grieves and Kevin Little rose to the occasion. After missing out narrowly in heat 1, Grieves dominated thereafter. Little plugged away collecting points steadily.
Blair Scott had a poor meeting but partially redeemed himself with a good ride for a crucial point in his third ride. Ross Brady really came good towards the end with two great wins, one with the aid of a Mick Powell engine failure.
Monarchs reserves both did their bit with McAllan taking a good second in heat two and a priceless point in heat 12. McDonald did what was expected of him and ended by backing up Brady for a 5-1 in heat 14.
Carl Stonehewer was the pick of the Tigers team although beaten three times. Mick Powell started well but suffered an engine blow and struggled on a borrowed bike in his last ride. Emiliano Sanchez made a sensational debut winning his first two races although assisted by a Carr engine failure. He showed speed and great control especially when laying down to avoid the fallen Carr in heat 13.
The Glasgow team has a much better balance to it with the new line-up with Brian Turner looking much happier at reserve. Courtney, Beveridge, and Turner all started well but faded towards the end of the match.
Man of the match: James Grieves
Most exciting rider: Carl Stonehewer
Next meeting: v Workington, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 4th June 1999
John Lowe