Premier National Trophy: Semi-Final First Leg
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 9th July 1999
A battered Edinburgh side edged to a narrow victory over Newcastle at Armadale. The Edinburgh riders were consistently outgated by the Newcastle team especially David Walsh but did enough to deserve the narrow lead. The close result will not count for much since the Edinburgh and Newcastle riders ride well on each others’ tracks. In some cases even better than on their own.
Edinburgh welcomed back Kevin Little after his recent wrist injury although he was far from being fully fit. James Grieves was out following rib, neck and back injuries sustained at Newport and Exeter last week. Jon Swales who was down to deputize for David McAllan was also out having his bike bent by Robert McNeil riding for Linlithgow at St. Austell. The gaps were filled by Les and Aiden Collins.
Newcastle were unchanged with Derrol Keats still in the team despite the press conference earlier this week announcing his replacement by Lee Dicken.
The track was rather slick and the inside line was the only place to be. Little passing was possible except on the inside line although there was a lot of good close racing.
Gate position B was in used with Newcastle off 1 and 3 for the first heat. The weather was very hot.
Heat 1: Les Collins, Robert Eriksson, Paul Gould, Stewart McDonald [58.4]
This proved to be a real cracker. Robert Eriksson gated and was chased by Les Collins. Les tried all ways to get past on the outside before finally barging his way through on the inside. Eriksson came back strongly and appeared to have won the race for the line but the referee gave the decision to Les. Paul Gould took second to tie the heat.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Mark Blackwell, Blair Scott, Aiden Collins, Steven Jones [60.1]
Blackwell gated from Collins. Blair Scott took over in second but could make no impression on Blackwell.
(3-3) (6-6)
Heat 3: David Walsh, Kevin Little, Blair Scott, Derrol Keats [58.1]
Ross Brady was excluded for tape touching and replaced by Scott. Walsh gated and stayed ahead of Kevin Little and Blair Scott.
(3-3) (9-9)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Jesper Olsen, Steven Jones, Blair Scott [57.1]
Carr missed the start but cut inside at the second bend and raced along the white line to beat Olsen to the third bend. Jones stayed ahead of Scott for yet another tied heat.
(3-3) (12-12)
Heat 5: Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Robert Eriksson, Paul Gould [59.4]
Ross Brady made the gate ahead of Kevin Little and Robert Eriksson. Eriksson chased and passed Little only for Little to come back and repass.
(5-1) (17-13)
Heat 6: Jesper Olsen, Les Collins, Mark Blackwell [58.6]
Jesper Olsen made the gate and Les Collins could do nothing to pass on the slick track. Stewart McDonald was holding a comfortable third place when he fell with Blackwell laying down. The re-run with McDonald excluded followed the same pattern.
(2-4) (19-17)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, David Walsh, Derrol Keats, Aiden Collins [58.6]
Peter Carr missed the start once more but again won with ease ahead of the Newcastle pairing.
(3-3) (22-20)
Heat 8: Paul Gould, Stewart McDonald, Blair Scott, Steven Jones [60.3]
McDonald and Scott gated as Jones lifted at the start. Gould had enough momentum through the second bend to sweep past Scott on the stand-side straight. Gould then set of after McDonald, who looked well down on power, and slipped inside him to win.
(3-3) (25-23)
Heat 9: Ross Brady, Jesper Olsen, Kevin Little, Mark Blackwell [59.5]
Ross Brady gated and subjected Jesper Olsen to a very hard second bend taking him way out wide and allowing Kevin Little through to second. Olsen kept at it and capitalized on a slip by Little who departed from the white line and took second place.
(4-2) (29-25)
Heat 10: David Walsh, Les Collins, Derrol Keats, Stewart McDonald [59.1]
Walsh gated and Les Collins could do nothing. Keats took third ahead of the toiling McDonald to cut the margin back to two points.
(2-4) (31-29)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, Paul Gould, Aiden Collins [58.1]
Carr had another easy win despite an indifferent start but with Aiden Collins stuck at the back it produced another tied heat.
(3-3) (34-32)
Heat 12: David Walsh, Kevin Little, Blair Scott, Mark Blackwell [59.8]
Kevin Little was clearly feeling the effects of his wrist injury and was beaten by the fast gating Walsh.
(3-3) (37-35)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, Jesper Olsen, Les Collins, Robert Eriksson, [58.2]
Both Carr and Collins missed the start but Carr did his usual trick of cutting inside while Collins managed to pass Eriksson to double Monarchs slender lead.
(4-2) (41-37)
Heat 14: Blair Scott, Derrol Keats [60.6]
Ross Brady made a fair start from gate 4 but spun around on the second bend and was excluded after he failed to clear his bike away. In the re-run, Derrol Keats did exactly the same but got up and restarted. Then Steven Jones fell in virtually the same stop and retired. This left things clear for reserve replacement Blair Scott to win by half a lap from Keats.
(3-2) (44-39)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, David Walsh, Jesper Olsen, Les Collins [57.6]
Poor starts once more for Carr and Collins. Carr again hit the white line and beat Walsh and Olsen to the third bend. Collins swept around the outside and was battling for second place but ultimately lost out.
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Les Collins |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
8 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
0 |
X |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Kevin Little |
2 |
2* |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
T |
3 |
3 |
X |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Aiden Collins |
1* |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
2 |
1* |
0 |
1* |
1* |
3 |
|
8+3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newcastle Diamonds |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Paul Gould |
1* |
0 |
3 |
1* |
|
|
|
5+2 |
|
David Walsh |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
13 |
|
Derrol Keats |
0 |
1* |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Jesper Olsen |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1* |
|
|
10+1 |
|
Mark Blackwell |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Steven Jones |
0 |
1 |
0 |
F |
|
|
|
1 |
Peter Carr had a relatively untroubled full maximum despite missing every start. He certainly knows how to find grip on the inside! Les Collins struggled on the slick track after some indifferent gating. Kevin Little made a useful comeback but was obviously feeling the effects of his injury and it probably cost him points.
Stewart McDonald was struggling with a slow engine and lack of confidence. Ross Brady was excluded twice but won easily with his other two rides.
Blair Scott had a mixed evening with several good rides but a couple of real stinkers. His score of paid eleven points will do his confidence no harm. Aiden Collins certainly looked the part and was always on the pace. He beat Steven Jones in heat 2.
Robert Eriksson had a tough meeting. He was unlucky not to be given the decision in heat 1. The track was made for David Walsh who started consistently well and was only beaten by Peter Carr. Jesper Olsen also found the going tough losing to Peter Carr three times and to Ross Brady.
Both Keats and Gould scored steadily and had only one last place each. Mark Blackwell rode well for four pints although Jones was somewhat jaded.
Edinburgh have a tough task to hold the five point lead at Brough Park. However with Grieves and Little fully fit, another win is not beyond them.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Les Collins
Next meeting: v Newport, Premier League Cup, Armadale on Friday 16th July 1999
John Lowe