Reading Racers 25: Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 23
Premier League
Smallmead Stadium, Reading
Monday 2nd August 1999
Edinburgh struggled in the early stages of the match at Reading and appeared to be coming to terms with the track when it was abandoned after heat 9 was stopped. While Monarchs were still two points behind when the meeting was called off, they certainly looked likely winners at that stage with Grieves going well and Blair Scott looking a real match-winner.
The track was rather heavy. The conditions changed dramatically when rain started to fall after three heats. The start was delayed with uncertainty over the new tyre regulations and by an unexpected pre-match parade. Otherwise, twelve heats may have been completed by the time that the track became unrideable.
Edinburgh were at full strength. Reading operated rider replacement for Justin Elkins at number 2.
Kevin Little won the toss for a change. Gate position B was used with Edinburgh off gates 1 and 3 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Petri Kokko, James Grieves, Marc Norris, Stewart McDonald [63.1]
Petri Kokko beat James Grieves from the gate and was backed up by rider replacement Marc Norris in a dull processional heat to give Reading the lead.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Peter Collyer, Blair Scott, Marc Norris, James Birkinshaw [64.9]
Peter Collyer and Marc Norris gated and seemed set for a 5-1 but Blair Scott chased hard finally edging inside Norris on the last bend and winning the race for the line.
(4-2) (8-4)
Heat 3: Kevin Little, Per Wester, Paul Clews, Ross Brady [64.4]
Kevin Little outgated Per Wester to win but Ross Brady was stuck at the back.
(3-3) (11-7)
Heat 4: Phil Morris, Blair Scott, Peter Carr, Peter Collyer [63.8]
Peter Carr missed the start and was headed by Phil Morris and Blair Scott who looked impressive in second place. Rider replacement Peter Collyer was last. The rain was starting to fall by now.
(3-3) (14-10)
Heat 5: James Grieves, Paul Clews, Stewart McDonald [66.9]
James Grieves made a good start but Per Wester lost control on the second bend, took out Grieves and was excluded. Grieves won the rerun from Clews and McDonald.
(2-4) (16-14)
Heat 6: Petri Kokko, Peter Carr, Marc Norris, James Birkinshaw [67.0]
Petri Kokko and rider replacement Marc Norris restored the four-point lead for the home team with Carr again slow out of the gate.
(4-2) (20-16)
Heat 7: Phil Morris, Ross Brady, Peter Collyer [67.6]
Phil Morris made the gate and took the inside line. It was a fascinating battle with Ross Brady trying everything to get past on the wider line. Brady looked much faster but Morris stuck doggedly to the white line and held his lead. Kevin Little was third throughout until he fell on the increasingly wet track on the exit from the first bend.
(4-2) (24-18)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, James Grieves, Paul Clews, Marc Norris [67.4]
With Reading having a six-point lead, James Grieves replaced Stewart McDonald as a tactical substitute. However it was Blair Scott who seared ahead at the tapes. He was backed up by Grieves for a 5-1 to bring Edinburgh back into contention.
(1-5) (25-23)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Paul Clews, Blair Scott [Heat abandoned]
Edinburgh brought in James Birkinshaw as a reserve replacement. Peter Carr swept ahead at the tapes with Blair Scott missing the start and stuck at the back. Per Wester fell on the third bend and was excluded. Blair Scott was unable to avoid him and also fell. Monarchs seemed hot favourites to at least level the scores with Carr and the in-form Scott facing rider replacement Paul Clews in the rerun but this never took place.
At this point, with the rain still falling, a track inspection was held and after consultation, the match was abandoned.
|
Reading Racers |
|
|
|
||||
|
Petri Kokko |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
Justin Elkins |
Rider replacement |
|
|
(3) |
|||
|
Per Wester |
2 |
X |
X |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Paul Clews |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Phil Morris |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
Peter Collyer |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Marc Norris |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
2 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
F |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Peter Carr |
1* |
2 |
|
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
James Birkinshaw |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Blair Scott |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
7 |
The Edinburgh riders were probably caught out early on by the track and surprised at finding dirt on it! They gradually improved, perhaps by changing bike setup and perhaps due to the rain.
Kevin Little and James Grieves both won heats but it was Blair Scott who looked the potential man of the match for Monarchs and who was really flying around the wet track. Peter Carr was gradually coming into things but Ross Brady failed to make an early impression.
Phil Morris and Petri Kokko both won their first two heats but Per Wester looked very unhappy on the wet track. The under threat Paul Clews did reasonably well in his three completed rides.
Next meeting: v Isle of Wight, Premier League, Smallbrook on Tuesday 3rd June 1999
John Lowe