Glasgow Qfm Tigers 49: Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 43
Premier League
Saracen Park, Ashfield
Sunday 22nd August 1999
Edinburgh lost out to Glasgow in a last heat decider. While Edinburgh appeared to have the edge in the early stages, after the interval to allow the track to be watered and regraded, Glasgow took command. Edinburgh suffered several riders off-form. Peter Carr improved on his Premier National Trophy performance but not by much. Kevin Little fell when leading his first race and struggled throughout for only one point. With James Grieves fading somewhat after winning heat 1, it was down to a brilliant show by Ross Brady and a solid performance by Blair Scott that Edinburgh were still in the match by that stage.
Edinburgh set up the last heat decider by taking a 7-1 golden double in heat 14 but Bentley and Collins controlled the last heat to give Glasgow their biggest League win of the season.
Edinburgh brought in new signing Justin Elkins at number 2 with David McAllan continuing at number 6 despite his fall at Linlithgow on Saturday. Glasgow continued to operate rider replacement for Emiliano Sanchez at number 4.
The day was fine and bright. The track looked OK apart from the usual problem with the second bend where there were a number of fallers.
Monarchs Captain Kevin Little managed to lose the toss once more and Gate position A was in used with Glasgow off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Les Collins, Justin Elkins, Sean Courtney [60.1]
James Grieves flew from the gate and outpaced Les Collins to win in a time that equalled the track record. Justin Elkins went around Sean Courtney on the first bend to take third place.
(2-4) (2-4)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, Dean Felton, Stuart Coleman [62.4]
Blair Scott led from Felton and McAllan when Coleman fell at the third bend. Coleman restarted and had to take avoiding action when David McAllan fell on the second bend. The race was stopped with McAllan excluded. Scott easily won the rerun. Coleman fell and remounted once more.
(3-3) (5-7)
Heat 3: Ross Brady, Paul Bentley, Stuart Coleman [60.7]
Kevin Little made the start ahead of Bentley with Ross Brady third and rider replacement Stuart Coleman trailing. Little fell on the second bend of the second lap collecting Bentley and Brady. Brady recovered to take his place in the rerun with Little excluded. Paul Bentley was first away but Brady wound it on around the outside to pass Bentley on the second bend.
(3-3) (8-10)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Dean Felton, Blair Scott, Will Beveridge [61.9]
Glasgow put Dean Felton in for Stuart Coleman. Peter Carr missed the start but barged inside Beveridge but took some time before he passed Felton. Beveridge fell on the second bend and restarted.
(2-4) (10-14)
Heat 5: Paul Bentley, James Grieves, Justin Elkins, Dean Felton [61.9]
Paul Bentley made the gate and Grieves failed with an attempt to come around the outside but Elkins took third to retain Edinburgh’s four-point lead.
(3-3) (13-17)
Heat 6: Sean Courtney, Les Collins, David McAllan [62.6]
Sean Courtney made the start and was followed by Peter Carr and Les Collins. Carr was making heavy weather of passing Courtney with Collins right behind him. Just when it appeared that Carr (and Collins) were about to pass Courtney, Carr snapped a chain going past the start finish line to gift a maximum to Glasgow.
(5-1) (18-18)
Heat 7: Ross Brady, Will Beveridge, Kevin Little, Dean Felton [62.1]
Beveridge gated but Ross Brady produced a stunning blast around the outside and passed on the third bend. Kevin Little was unable to improve on third place.
(2-4) (20-22)
Heat 8: James Grieves, Will Beveridge, Stewart McDonald, Stuart Coleman [61.3]
Sean Courtney gated from Blair Scott and won a very tight decision on the line after the Monarchs reserve made a last gasp surge, Justin Elkins finished a solid third while Stuart Coleman fell yet a gain and retired.
(3-3) (23-25)
Heat 9: Sean Courtney, Paul Bentley, Peter Carr, David McAllan [64.2]
Sean Courtney came in as rider replacement and made another start. With Bentley protecting his back Peter Carr could make no impression.
(5-1) (28-26)
Heat 10: Ross Brady, Les Collins, Sean Courtney, Kevin Little [62.2]
Courtney gated again but Ross Brady produced an even more breathtaking outside sweep to pass on the fourth bend. Les Collins took over the chase but could make no progress. Kevin Little was stuck at the back.
(3-3) (31-29)
Heat 11: Will Beveridge, James Grieves, Dean Felton [63.9]
Will Beveridge won his first heat ahead of Grieves. Elkins seemed set to take third when he suffered ignition problems and retired.
(4-2) (35-31)
Heat 12: Paul Bentley, Dean Felton, Blair Scott, Kevin Little [63.7]
Bentley and Felton gated leaving Blair Scott and Kevin Little unable to make an impression.
(5-1) (40-32)
Heat 13: Les Collins, James Grieves, Peter Carr, Will Beveridge [62.2]
Grieves gated from Collins and Carr. The 4-2 would have suited Monarchs taking them to six points behind and permitting tactical substitutions in heat 14. Les Collins spoiled that by passing Grieves to keep the margin at a daunting eight points.
(3-3) (43-35)
Heat 14: Ross Brady, James Grieves, Dean Felton, Will Beveridge [63.1]
Glasgow used Beveridge as rider replacement while Edinburgh played the joker and put Grieves in as a golden double tactical. Brady gated but instead of attempting to block he forged ahead. Fortunately, Felton held things up and Grieves was soon up with Beveridge. He took a couple of laps to pass both Beveridge and Felton and was unable to establish a clear lead. Brady was some way ahead and despite slowing down off the final bend he couldn’t manage to let Grieves pass without risking Felton and possibly Beveridge sneaking past.
(1-7) (44-42)
Heat 15: James Grieves [62.2]
Glasgow won the toss for gate position and used Bentley and Collins against Grieves and Brady. Bentley gated and resisted an outside sweep by Brady allowing Collins to come inside the Monarchs youngster.
(5-1) (49-43)
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Les Collins |
2 |
2* |
2 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
11+2 |
|
|
Sean Courtney |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1* |
|
|
10+1 |
|
|
Paul Bentley |
2 |
3 |
2* |
3 |
3 |
|
|
13+1 |
|
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
Rider replacement |
|
|
(5+1) |
|||||
|
Will Beveridge |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
Dean Felton |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2* |
1 |
4 |
|
|
Stuart Coleman |
F |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4* |
0 |
13+1 |
||
|
Justin Elkins |
1 |
1* |
1* |
R |
|
|
|
3+2 |
|
|
Kevin Little |
X |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Ross Brady |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
R |
1 |
1* |
|
|
|
5+1 |
|
|
David McAllan |
X |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Peter Carr had another poor afternoon on a track he doesn’t seem to have come to grips with. Kevin Little has a total nightmare following his fall when leading heat 3. Grieves started very well but seemed to lack his normal pace thereafter although he did his bit to keep the meeting alive.
Ross Brady was the star of the show. Despite only making one start he looked almost invincible on the Ashfield track until blocked out by Bentley and Collins in the last heat. Elkins made a solid debut until his obligatory engine failure in heat 11.
Blair Scott looked sharp and score with each ride and might have been given more outings.
While Bentley and Collins were top scorers for Glasgow, it was Sean Courtney who proved to be the match winner along with Dean Felton. Stuart Coleman contrived to fall three times in three rides and collected only gift points.
Glasgow took eight heat wins to seven from Edinburgh. The home riders failed to score in seven heats to eight for the visitors. Glasgow shaded the match by taking ten second places to five by Edinburgh.
Man of the match: Ross Brady
Most exciting rider: Ross Brady
Next meeting: v Sheffield, Premier League Cup, Owlerton on Thursday 26th August 1999
John Lowe