Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 27th August 1999
A battered Edinburgh side struggled to beat a determined Glasgow outfit in a last heat decider. The 5-1 in heat 15 not only ensured Monarchs of a win but also gained the bonus point by 91 to 90. The win was achieved at a cost since Blair Scott joined his fellow reserve Brian Turner on the injured list after a fall in heat 2. Blair was taken to hospital with rib and chest injuries.
Monarchs were without James Grieves once more and Mick Powell substituted. Brian Turner was missing after sustaining a knee injury at Sheffield the night before. Jon Swales came in using a James Grieves bike. Glasgow were missing long term injury victim Emiliano Sanchez and Sean Courtney. Paul Gould came in for Sanchez while rider replacement was used for Courtney.
The track had a lot of dirt on it particularly out wide. With rain threatening the meeting started at 7.30 without a parade.
Monarchs Captain Kevin Little lost the toss yet again. Gate position B was in used with Edinburgh off 2 and 4 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Mick Powell, Les Collins, Justin Elkins, Dean Felton [58.2]
Dean Felton came in as rider replacement. Mick Powell was away with Collins and Elkins in pursuit. Mick led the race until the entry to the last bend where he made a slip allowing Collins to pass. Powell made a determined charge for the line and won a tight decision.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Jon Swales, Dean Felton [59.1]
Blair Scott was quickly away leaving Felton and Swales trailing. Stuart Coleman fell on the third bend causing the heat to be stopped and was excluded. Second time around, Scott was again well ahead with Swales on the point of passing Felton when Scott fell. Blair appeared to pick up extra drive and ran out of track hitting the start gate. Blair was excluded and was taken to hospital. Swales gated to win the next rerun easily.
(3-2) (7-4)
Heat 3: Paul Bentley, Kevin Little, Paul Gould, Ross Brady [59.3]
Bentley made the start but Little passed only to go rather wide allowing Bentley to come back. Ross Brady missed the start was unable to get back on terms.
(2-4) (9-8)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Will Beveridge, Jon Swales, Stuart Coleman [59.1]
Carr had few problems winning the race while Swales came from the back to pass Coleman and push Beveridge.
(4-2) (13-10)
Heat 5: Les Collins, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Stuart Coleman [68.4]
Stuart Coleman came as rider replacement. Brady and Little gated but Les put in a vintage ride to first pass Little and then take advantage of a slip by Brady to take the lead on the fourth bend of the third lap.
(3-3) (16-13)
Heat 6: Mick Powell, Will Beveridge, Dean Felton, Justin Elkins [59.5]
Powell won from the gate with Beveridge second. Elkins was battling with Felton for third place when he appeared to stop on the third bend only to restart when half a lap behind.
(3-3) (19-16)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Paul Bentley, Jon Swales, Paul Gould [58.4]
Bentley gated but Carr passed him after two laps to win. Swales produced a great ride to chase Paul Gould and pip him on the line.
(4-2) (23-18)
Heat 8: Paul Gould, Dean Felton, Justin Elkins [59.9]
Elkins bike appeared to die at the start only to burst into life when the rest of the field was approaching the third bend. Rider replacement Gould and Felton gated but Swales made a determined effort and passed Felton and was pressing Gould hard when he hit the last bend fence and was excluded.
(1-5) (24-23)
Heat 9: Kevin Little, Dean Felton, Ross Brady, Will Beveridge [59.6]
Kevin Little gated and withstood a surge by Felton to hold on a win his first race of the evening. Ross Brady had a strange ride making a good start but slipping back to last place before passing Beveridge to take third.
(4-2) (28-25)
Heat 10: Mick Powell, Paul Bentley, Paul Gould, Justin Elkins [59.7]
Mick Powell surged ahead once more leaving Bentley and Gould well behind. Justin Elkins appeared to shut off just after the start only to start once more when well adrift.
(3-3) (31-28)
Heat 11: Les Collins, Peter Carr, Dean Felton [59.3]
Peter Carr missed the start and found it difficult to get past the wide riding Les Collins. Jon Swales retired just after the start gifting a point to rider replacement Dean Felton and a heat advantage to Glasgow.
(2-4) (33-32)
Heat 12: Kevin Little, Paul Bentley, Dean Felton, Jon Swales [59.7]
A good win for Kevin Little over Paul Bentley. This time, Felton got the better of Jon Swales.
(3-3) (36-35)
Heat 13: Mick Powell, Peter Carr, Les Collins, Will Beveridge [59.5]
Powell and Carr swept ahead by the third bend and were never really challenged.
(5-1) (41-36)
Heat 14: Paul Gould, Jon Swales, Stuart Coleman, Ross Brady [60.9]
Gould made the gate but Brady swept around the outside on the third bend to hit the front only to fall and restart. Jon Swales pushed hard but couldn’t get past Gould.
(2-4) (43-40)
Heat 15: Mick Powell, Peter Carr, Paul Bentley, Les Collins [59.9]
Paul Bentley made the start but was unable to do anything as Carr and Powell carved their way past to record an easy maximum and tie up both the match and the bonus point.
(5-1) (48-41)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Mick Powell |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Justin Elkins |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Kevin Little |
1* |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2* |
2* |
|
|
12+2 |
|
Jon Swales |
3 |
1 |
1 |
X |
R |
0 |
2 |
7 |
|
Blair Scott |
X |
|
|
|
0 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Les Collins |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
9 |
|
|
Sean Courtney |
Rider replacement |
|
|
|
(4) |
|||
|
Paul Bentley |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
10 |
|
|
Paul Gould |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1* |
3 |
|
|
8+1 |
|
Will Beveridge |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Dean Felton |
0 |
2 |
1* |
2* |
2 |
1 |
1* |
9+3 |
|
Stuart Coleman |
X |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
Mick Powell really proved his point by scoring an impressive full maximum. Peter Carr dropped a rare point at Armadale when he couldn’t get past Les Collins in heat 11. Kevin Little showed a welcome return to form in his last two rides.
Ross Brady had a poor meeting but put in a lot of effort for three points. Justin Elkins had a good ride in heat 1 but was incomprehensible after that appearing to stop and then start in three heats. Jon Swales was overworked having to take three of Blair Scott’s rides as well as his own. He had a good meeting and but for a fall in heat 8 could have recorded a double figure score.
Glasgow were highly dependent on Collins, Bentley and guest Gould who achieved all their five wins. The great nine-point contribution of Dean Felton should not be overlooked. It was a typical gritty Glasgow away performance that nearly brought them at least a bonus point.
Man of the match: Mick Powell
Most exciting rider: Les Collins
Next meeting: v Arena Essex, Premier League, Armadale on Sunday 5th September 1999
John Lowe