Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 56: Newport Wasps 33
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 23rd July 1999
Monarchs repeated last week’s win over Newport by a virtually identical scoreline. It arrived in a slightly different way with this time Monarchs taking control right from the start. Newport, fresh from their impressive win at Glasgow last night, were never in contention. Newport’s second strings and reserves took enough points to cover for uncharacteristic displays from Frank Smart and Craig Watson.
The crowd was big on a sunny evening with the Newport support present in large numbers. As the meeting neared its end, the wind blew some light drizzle over Armadale.
Monarchs were at full strength while Newport were again missing Anders Henriksson and used Michael Coles as guest.
Newport won the toss and opted for gate position B off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Stewart McDonald, Andrew Appleton [57.8]
Craig Watson shed a chain at the start leaving Grieves and McDonald to take an easy maximum.
(5-1) (5-1)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, Bobby Eldridge, Chris Neath, James Birkinshaw [59.1]
Bobby Eldridge led from Blair Scott and Chris Neath. With all four riders looking uneasy on the track, Blair Scott swept ahead as Birkinshaw attempted to get past Neath. On one occasion he appeared to have slipped through on the inside of the second bend but Neath picked up drive to re-pass.
(3-3) (8-4)
Heat 3: Michael Coles, Kevin Little, Scott Pegler, Ross Brady [58.7]
Michael Coles gated from Little and Brady. Pegler swept past Brady on the back straight to peg back the lead.
(2-4) (10-8)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Chris Neath [Awarded]
Carr made a tremendous start from gate 4 and was backed up by Blair Scott. Frank Smart pursued Scott and tried to pass on the inside on the first bend but fell and was excluded. Amazingly, referee McGregor awarded the race even though the incident happened at the start of the second lap.
(5-1) (15-9)
Heat 5: Kevin Little, Craig Watson, Ross Brady, Andrew Appleton [57.9]
Kevin Little and Ross Brady gated but Craig Watson easily passed Brady but couldn’t get past Little.
(4-2) (19-11)
Heat 6: James Grieves, Frank Smart, Stewart McDonald, Bobby Eldridge [58.3]
Frank Smart gated but James Grieves passed him. McDonald easily took third place ahead of Eldridge who fell and restarted.
(4-2) (23-13)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Scott Pegler, Michael Coles, James Birkinshaw [57.9]
Peter Carr gated while Pegler took an outside line to sweep around Coles and take second place. He was unable to trouble Carr.
(3-3) (26-16)
Heat 8: Stewart McDonald, Michael Coles, Craig Watson, Blair Scott [58.7]
Newport sprung a double tactical substitution with Watson and Coles replacing Appleton and Neath. McDonald and Coles were neck and neck out of the gate with Scott snapping at the heels of Watson. As the race continued it appeared that Coles would get past McDonald but Stewart taking the wider line always had the grip to come back on Coles.
(3-3) (29-19)
Heat 9: Kevin Little, Frank Smart [58.8]
Scott Pegler was introduced as a tactical substitute for Eldridge. In the first attempt at this heat, Pegler was excluded after falling. In the re-run Little and Brady gated but as Smart passed Brady on the inside of the first bend, Brady fell and was excluded. The final attempt saw Little outgate Smart and win.
(3-2) (32-21)
Heat 10: James Grieves, Michael Coles, Scott Pegler, Stewart McDonald [58.7]
Grieves had an untroubled win but Scott Pegler came from the back to pass McDonald and tie the heat.
(3-3) (35-24)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Craig Watson, Andrew Appleton, James Birkinshaw [57.2]
Another searing start by Carr to beat Watson while Appleton held off Birkinshaw for third place.
(3-3) (38-27)
Heat 12: Kevin Little, Michael Coles, Blair Scott, Bobby Eldridge [58.7]
Kevin Little outgated Coles for another impressive win. Blair Scott came from behind to pass Eldridge.
(4-2) (42-29)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Craig Watson, Frank Smart [58.3]
Grieves swept ahead from the tapes while Carr joined him for another maximum.
(5-1) (47-30)
Heat 14: Blair Scott, Chris Neath, Ross Brady [59.8]
Scott Pegler was excluded after taking out Ross Brady on the third bend. In the re-run with Brady looking very uncomfortable, reserve replacement Blair Scott won from Chris Neath.
(4-2) (51-32)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Craig Watson, Michael Coles [58.2]
James Grieves swept around Watson and Coles on the outside while Carr cut inside to conclude the meeting with a maximum.
(5-1) (56-33)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
2* |
13+2 |
|
|
Stewart McDonald |
2* |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
6+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
11 |
|
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
1 |
X |
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
|
|
James Birkinshaw |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
2* |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
9+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newport Wasps |
|
|
|
||||
|
Craig Watson |
R |
2 |
1* |
2 |
1 |
1 |
7+1 |
|
Andrew Appleton |
1 |
0 |
1* |
|
|
1+1 |
|
|
Michael Coles |
3 |
1* |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
10+1 |
|
Scot Pegler |
1 |
2 |
X |
1* |
X |
|
4+1 |
|
Frank Smart |
X |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
|
Bobby Eldridge |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
Chris Neath |
1* |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
Carr and Grieves were totally dominant and won most races from the gate. Kevin Little was beaten in his first race but won from then on. Stewart McDonald made a return to form especially fending off the double tactical substitution in heat 8. Blair Scott was paid for another double figure score. Ross Brady had a torrid night after feeling unwell and nearly not riding. He struggled to hold position but picked up a couple of points. James Birkinshaw had a hard time against the improving Newport lower end.
For Newport, only Michael Coles of the heat leaders performed up to expectations. Craig Watson and Frank Smart both had troubled meetings and failed to win a heat. The Newport bottom end performed better than last week and all managed to get amongst the points.
Newport riders only won one heat, Michael Coles in heat 3. This also provided their only heat advantage.
Bring on Sheffield!
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Scott Pegler
Next meeting: v Newcastle, Premier National Trophy, Brough Park on Sunday 26th July 1999
John Lowe