Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 57: Newport Wasps 33
(Edinburgh win by 94 points to 86)
Premier League Cup: Second Round Second Leg
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 16th July 1999
Monarchs turned in their best performance to sweep aside a powerful Newport side and overcome a 16-point first leg deficit and progress to the Semi-Final of the Premier League Cup and a crunch encounter with Sheffield. Newport seemed to be well in command in the early stages but Edinburgh clawed their way back after repulsing tactical substitutions in heat 8 and 9. Newport still had the edge after 10 heats but Monarchs finished with a 4-2 and four straight 5-1s to run out winners by a deceptively big margin after a pulsating meeting.
The track looked rather slick but produced good racing throughout on a warm evening with the threat of light drizzle. The number of visiting Newport supporters was lower than usual. This is not surprising since they are due back next week on their Northern Tour.
Edinburgh were at full strength with the return of James Grieves after injury and with Kevin Little continuing his comeback. James Birkinshaw made his debut at number 6. Newport used Armadale specialist Brent Werner as guest for Anders Henriksson. This gave them one of the most powerful heat leader trios seen at Armadale with Craig Watson and Frank Smart. Newport also had a useful number 4 in Scott Pegler who was paid for ten points at Armadale the year before last.
Newport won the toss and opted for gate position B off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Craig Watson, James Grieves, Stewart McDonald, Andrew Appleton [57.5]
Craig Watson made the start from gate 1 and easily held off James Grieves. Stewart McDonald swept ahead of Appleton at the tapes to take third.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, Chris Neath, James Birkinshaw [59.6]
Blair Scott swept ahead of Neath with Birkinshaw leading Eldridge. Both Birkinshaw and Eldridge looked uneasy of the tricky surface and Eldridge fell on the fourth bend. Birkinshaw slowed down to take third place and edge Monarchs ahead.
(4-2) (7-5)
Heat 3: Brent Werner, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Scott Pegler [58.5]
Brent Werner made a good start from gate 1 and headed Brady. Kevin Little was last but passed Pegler. Kevin had to do it all again after Pegler repassed him but managed to tie the heat.
(3-3) (10-8)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Frank Smart, Blair Scott, Chris Neath, [58.3]
The two Newport riders took advantage of the inside gates and Smart headed Carr while Neath led Scott. Peter Carr barged inside Smart and then Blair Scott passed Neath to double Monarchs slim lead.
(4-2) (14-10)
Heat 5: Craig Watson, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Andrew Appleton [59.1]
Craig Watson made a brilliant start sweeping around from gate 4 to head Brady and Little at the third bend and secure his second win.
(3-3) (17-13)
Heat 6: James Grieves, Frank Smart, Stewart McDonald, Bobby Eldridge [58.7]
The fast starting Frank Smart led but James Grieves came through to pass. McDonald easily took third place to extend the lead to six points.
(4-2) (21-15)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Brent Werner, Scott Pegler, James Birkinshaw [58.1]
Peter Carr totally missed the start but did one of his ‘specials’ cutting inside and passing the two Newport riders on the inside of the back straight. James Birkinshaw was stuck at the back behind Pegler.
(3-3) (24-18)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Frank Smart, Stewart McDonald, Chris Neath [58.7]
The expected tactical substitution happened with Frank Smart in for Appleton. McDonald and Scott gated but Frank Smart made short work of Scott and then hit McDonald with a very hard turn on the fourth bend to take the lead. McDonald dropped back a little and Scott took up the chase. After continuing with what looked like a futile chase, Blair Scott finally picked up enough drive coming off the last bend to sweep past Smart on the line for a magnificent win.
(4-2) (28-20)
Heat 9: Frank Smart, Kevin Little, Craig Watson, Ross Brady [58.7]
Newport threw in another tactical substitution putting in Craig Watson for Eldridge to join Frank Smart. Kevin Little made a good start to split the Newport top two. Ross Brady never gave and a harried Watson all the way. The lead was now back to six but Newport had used two of their three tactical substitution options.
(2-4) (30-24)
Heat 10: Brent Werner, James Grieves, Blair Scott [59.9]
Edinburgh brought in flying reserve Blair Scott for McDonald. Brent Werner tipped the scales back towards Newport with a good win over Grieves even though Scott Pegler fell and retired.
(3-3) (33-27)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Craig Watson, James Birkinshaw, Andrew Appleton [57.1]
The pendulum swung back slightly after Carr won the crunch encounter with Watson. The first run was stopped after Watson went down after a first bend clash with Carr. Carr gated in the re-run to win. James Birkinshaw produced a great ride coming from the back to pass Appleton and increase the lead to 8 points with four heats to go.
(4-2) (37-29)
Heat 12: Blair Scott, Kevin Little, Chris Neath [60.5]
To overcome a 16-point lead against a team as good as Newport requires some breaks. Monarchs got one here after Brent Werner was excluded for tape touching. Chris Neath came out leaving the Wasps reserve pairing facing in-form Blair Scott and Kevin Little. This duly produced the inevitable 5-1 and Edinburgh now led by 12 points.
(5-1) (42-30)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Frank Smart, Craig Watson [61.4]
Carr and Grieves gated and swept ahead for a big 5-1 to level the scores on aggregate with two to go.
(5-1) (47-31)
Heat 14: Blair Scott, Ross Brady, Scott Pegler, Brent Werner [60.2]
Newport played their last card with Brent Werner coming in as a tactical substitute for Neath while Edinburgh put in Blair Scott for Birkinshaw. Blair Scott gated and led the way. Brady missed the start but ‘did a Peter Carr’ and cut inside on the back straight to edge out Pegler at the third bend. The Monarchs’ pairing took the 5-1 and Edinburgh led by 4 overall
(5-1) (52-32)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Frank Smart, [58.2]
With the Newport pairing having the inside gates, Smart and Watson were quick away. Carr edged into the lead on the back straight before Watson retired with mechanical problems. Grieves chased Smart all the way and passed on the last lap to secure another 5-1 and take the tie by 8 points on aggregate
(5-1) (57-33)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2* |
2* |
|
11+2 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
1* |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
1* |
1* |
2 |
2* |
|
|
6+3 |
|
Ross Brady |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2* |
|
6+1 |
|
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
James Birkinshaw |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
|
Newport Wasps |
|
|
|
||||
|
Craig Watson |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
R |
9 |
|
Andrew Appleton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Brent Werner |
3 |
2 |
3 |
T |
0 |
|
8 |
|
Scot Pegler |
0 |
1* |
F |
1 |
|
|
2+1 |
|
Frank Smart |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
|
Bobby Eldridge |
F |
0 |
F |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Chris Neath |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
Peter Carr collected a fifth successive home maximum all by big margins despite indifferent gating. James Grieves looked a bit tentative early on and was beaten by Watson and Werner before settling down in his last two rides. Kevin Little backed up Brady in his first two rides. He produced a gem to split Smart and Watson in heat 9 and deny them a 5-1 at a critical phase in the meeting.
All the Monarchs second strings and reserves did their job. This is illustrated that in only two heats did a Monarch fail to score. One was Ross Brady up against Smart and Watson in heat 9 and the other was Birkinshaw up against Werner and Pegler in heat 7. The one who really ensured the win was Blair Scott who had four heat wins. This included his epic win over Frank Smart in heat 8 and also lowering the colours of Werner in heat 14. Brady scored well without really making a start. McDonald looked much more like hi s old self. Monarchs can be well pleased with the debut of Birkinshaw. After taking a couple of heats to come to terms with the track he looked very assured taking Appleton from the back in his third ride.
The three Newport heat leaders all started well; winning five of the first ten heats, but faded as the match went on. They still managed 28 points between them. Newport were let down by the inability of their second strings and reserves to come to terms with the track. They only collected 5 points between them and only finished ahead of Birkinshaw.
Bring on Sheffield!
Man of the match: Blair Scott
Most exciting rider: Blair Scott
Next meeting: v Newport, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 23rd July 1999
John Lowe