Isle of Wight Islanders 59: Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 31
Premier League
Smallbrook Stadium, Rye
Tuesday 3rd August 1999
Edinburgh took a real hammering at the Isle of Wight on a track that they usually struggle. Monarchs started reasonably well with two heat advantages in the first three heats but it was one-way traffic after that.
There was an excellent crowd with the Island escaping the rain affecting much of the country.
Monarchs were normally at full strength although Blair Scott picked up arm and leg injuries when brought down by Per Wester at Reading the day before. The Islanders had Phil Morris in place of the injured Phillipe Bergé.
Kevin Little won the toss for the Edinburgh and opted for gate position B off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Phil Morris, Stewart McDonald, Wayne Carter [70.6]
Grieves took advantage of the inside gate to edge out Morris at the first bend and held on to win. Stewart McDonald also produced a good ride to beat Wayne Carter despite being under pressure all the way.
(2-4) (2-4)
Heat 2: Tommy Palmer, Glen Phillips, Blair Scott, James Birkinshaw [71.9]
James Birkinshaw lifted at the start as Palmer and Phillips shot away to a 5-1 ahead of Blair Scott.
(5-1) (7-5)
Heat 3: Ross Brady, Scott Swain, Kevin Little [71.8]
Ross Brady was first away with Kevin Little trailing Bird and Swain. Danny Bird tried rather too hard to pass Brady and fell on the third bend gifting a point to little.
(2-4) (9-9)
Heat 4: Neville Tatum, Peter Carr, Glen Phillips, Blair Scott, [71.6]
Peter Carr missed the start and Tatum was away. Blair Scott held a comfortable second until he lost position on the second bend allowing Phillips to pass.
(4-2) (13-11)
Heat 5: Scott Swain, James Grieves, Danny Bird, Stewart McDonald [70.5]
Scott Swain and Danny Bird gated but Bird took the wrong line on the second bend and James Grieves passed to take second.
(4-2) (17-13)
Heat 6: Wayne Carter, Phil Morris, Peter Carr [71.2]
Wayne Carter and Phil Morris outgated Peter Carr for another maximum. James Birkinshaw retired when well behind.
(5-1) (22-14)
Heat 7: Neville Tatum, Tommy Palmer, Kevin Little, Ross Brady [70.6]
Neville Tatum retained his full maximum and Tommy Palmer kept his paid maximum with yet another maximum.
(5-1) (27-15)
Heat 8: Wayne Carter, James Grieves, Peter Carr, Glen Phillips [71.9]
Monarchs made a double tactical substitution by Carr and Grieves replacing McDonald and Scott. Wayne Carter made the gate from Grieves with Carr last. Carr wasted little time in sweeping past Phillips but Carter had no problems holding on.
(3-3) (30-18)
Heat 9: Scott Swain, Peter Carr, Danny Bird, James Birkinshaw [70.8]
Scott Swain and Danny Bird gated but Peter Carr produced a classy outside pass of Bird to take second place but could not catch Swain.
(4-2) (34-20)
Heat 10: Kevin Little, Phil Morris, Wayne Carter [72.2]
Little and Brady gated and seemed set for at least a heat advantage until Brady fell on the exit from the third bend. Brady restarted but later retired.
(3-3) (37-23)
Heat 11: Neville Tatum, Tommy Palmer, James Grieves, Stewart McDonald [72.1]
Neville Tatum and Tommy Palmer repeated the trick with another 5-1 over Grieves and McDonald.
(5-1) (42-24)
Heat 12: Scott Swain, Kevin Little, Ross Brady, Glen Phillips [71.8]
Ross Brady came in as a tactical substitute for Birkinshaw. He backed up Kevin Little to a shared heat finishing behind Swain.
(3-3) (45-27)
Heat 13: Neville Tatum, Peter Carr, Phil Morris, James Grieves, [72.0]
Neville Tatum kept his 100% record with Carr second ahead of Morris.
(4-2) (49-29)
Heat 14: Danny Bird, Tommy Palmer, Kevin Little, Blair Scott [72.9]
Monarchs played their last card by bringing in Kevin Little as a tactical substitute for Ross Brady. This did nothing to stem the one-way flow with Bird and Palmer taking yet maximum.
(5-1) (54-30)
Heat 15: Scott Swain, Neville Tatum, Peter Carr [72.8]
Swain and Tatum stormed to the sixth 5-1 of the match ahead of Carr with Little retiring at the back.
(5-1) (59-31)
|
Isle of Wight Islanders |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Phil Morris |
2 |
2* |
2 |
1 |
|
|
7+1 |
|
|
Wayne Carter |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Scott Swain |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
14 |
|
|
Danny Bird |
F |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
Neville Tatum |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
14+1 |
|
Tommy Palmer |
3 |
2* |
2* |
2* |
|
|
|
9+3 |
|
Glen Phillips |
2* |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
8 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Kevin Little |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
R |
|
9 |
|
Ross Brady |
3 |
0 |
R |
1* |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
2 |
1 |
1* |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
9+1 |
|
James Birkinshaw |
0 |
R |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
The Monarchs riders were consistently outgated by the Islanders. That is fatal on the Smallbrook track where passing is especially difficult. Monarchs produced most of the limited passing. However none of the passes were on a home heat leader. Peter Carr worked really hard for only nine points without making a start. James Grieves and Ross Brady both won first time out but faded afterwards. Kevin Little had one win and little else.
Scott Swain was total dominant after losing to Brady first time out. Tatum was never threatened. Tommy Palmer took a paid maximum and as a result Andy Galvin lost a bet and was to have his flowing locks shaved off!
Man of the match: Neville Tatum
Most exciting rider: Peter Carr
Next meeting: v Isle of Wight, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 6th August 1999
John Lowe