Edinburgh Century Mortgages Monarchs 58 : Sheffield Star Tigers 32
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 30th April 1999
Monarchs gained revenge for their drubbing at Sheffield the day before with a crushing win over the poor travelling Tigers.
After James Grieves beat Sean Wilson in heat 1 as Blair Scott got the better of Paul Lee and this was followed by a Monarchs' 5-1 in the reserves race, it was down to whether Monarchs could take the bonus point. They failed narrowly after needing four ‘five-ones’ in the last four heats and only getting three.
The day was dry but warm. The track had more dirt than of late but one or two slick patches developed. The track staff had to resort to a Bobby Charlton style ‘comb-over’. The track produced some good racing on the few occasions when a Sheffield rider could get anywhere near any of the home team.
Kevin Little won the toss and chose gate position A with Sheffield off 2 and 4 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Sean Wilson, Blair Scott, Paul Lee [57.9]
James Grieves made a great start to head Wilson and Blair Scott edged out Paul Lee. Wilson tried the inside and outside lines but failed to pass. Grieves won in the fastest time this season.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Ross Brady, David McAllan, Simon Cartwright [60.5]
Brady gated as per usual in this heat but McAllan was last away. Boast was slithering all over the track and McAllan soon passed him and set off after the erratic Cartwright. After a couple of failed attempts, McAllan finally got through on the last bend when Cartwright lost position. Boast fell earlier when well behind.
(5-1) (9-3)
Heat 3: Kevin Little, André Compton, Stewart McDonald [59.9]
André Compton made the start from Little and McDonald. Stead fell after failing to pass McDonald. Little chased Compton all the way and got passed after Compton made a slip on the fourth bend.
(4-2) (13-5)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Scott Smith, Peter Boast [57.9]
An all too predictable 5-1 from the home riders.
(5-1) (18-6)
Heat 5: Sean Wilson, Stewart McDonald, Kevin Little, Paul Lee [59.1]
Sean Wilson stopped the rot with a win over Stewart McDonald. Paul Lee made a brave surge on the line but just failed to pass Little.
(3-3) (21-9)
Heat 6: James Grieves, André Compton, Blair Scott, Scott Smith [58.8]
Possibly sensing another home 5-1 was on the cards, Sheffield replaced Cartwright with André Compton. Compton managed to take second place ahead of Blair Scott with Smith trailing.
(4-2) (25-11)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, André Compton, Simon Stead, David McAllan [58.2]
Peter Carr blasted ahead to win from Compton. McAllan missed the start but pushed Stead all the way.
(3-3) (28-14)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Simon Stead, Simon Cartwright [60.8]
Another tactical substitution by Sheffield with Simon Stead in for Peter Boast. Blair Scott and Ross Brady looked to be heading for another 5-1 when Brady spun on the second bend he appeared to have recovered when Paul Lee clipped him. Brady was excluded and Lee was out of the rerun (and the meeting) with a wrist injury. Cartwright came in for Lee but Blair Scott won with ease.
(3-3) (31-17)
Heat 9: Sean Wilson, Kevin Little, Stewart McDonald, Simon Cartwright [58.4]
Sean Wilson came in as a tactical substitute for Scott Smith. Substituting a heat leader in heat 9 was a measure of desperation in the Sheffield camp.
(3-3) (34-20)
Heat 10: James Grieves, André Compton, Blair Scott, Simon Stead [59.1]
Grieves won again over Compton. Blair Scott swept past Simon Stead.
(4-2) (38-22)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Sean Wilson, Scott Smith, David McAllan, [58.7]
This was the best heat of the night. Wilson had the drop on Carr from the gate with tactical substitute Scott Smith ahead of McAllan. Peter Carr harried Wilson for nearly four laps and managed to get past coming out of the last bend.
(3-3) (41-25)
Heat 12: André Compton, Kevin Little, Simon Cartwright, Ross Brady [59.5]
Compton headed Little with Brady stuck at the back. The Monarchs’ youngster surged past Cartwright without trouble but then seemed to slow down. Cartwright repassed and secured Tigers’ first (and only) heat advantage. It also ensured the bonus point for Sheffield.
(2-4) (43-29)
Heat 13: James Grieves, Peter Carr, Sean Wilson, Scott Smith [58.6]
Grieves and Carr gated for a maximum.
(5-1) (48-30)
Heat 14: Ross Brady, Stewart McDonald, Simon Stead, Peter Boast [60.3]
Monarchs put in Ross Brady as a reserve change for McAllan. Brady was backed up my McDonald for a maximum.
(5-1) (52-31)
Heat 15: James Grieves, Peter Carr, André Compton, Simon Cartwright [59.3]
There was a first-bend pile up. The referee invited all four back. Wilson, whose footrest broke in the first attempt, failed to get a replacement bike going and was two-minuted. Cartwright came in for Wilson, After another false start, Grieves and Carr completed full and paid maximums.
(5-1) (58-32)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
1* |
2 |
2 |
|
|
8+1 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
1 |
2 |
1* |
2* |
|
|
6+2 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
2* |
|
13+1 |
|
David McAllan |
2* |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
3 |
2* |
X |
0 |
3 |
|
9+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sheffield Tigers |
|
|
|
||||
|
Sean Wilson |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
M |
11 |
|
Paul Lee |
0 |
0 |
N |
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
André Compton |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
|
Simon Stead |
F |
1* |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
4+1 |
|
Scott Smith |
1 |
0 |
1* |
0 |
|
|
2+1 |
|
Simon Cartwright |
1 |
1* |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
3+1 |
|
Peter Boast |
F |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
James Grieves carded his first ever maximum in a league and was untroubled throughout. Peter Carr had to work hard to pass Sean Wilson in heat 11 but won had few problems otherwise. Kevin Little was slightly below par but only lost to Wilson (twice) and Compton.
Blair Scott and Stewart McDonald also only lost to Compton and Wilson. Ross Brady had a typical evening with two wins, one paid win, one last and an exclusion after falling when in a paid win position. David McAllan is suffering from poor starting and after coming from the back for a paid win in heat 2, he failed to score after pushing Simon Stead hard in heat 7 and missing out to tactical substitute Scott Smith in heat 11.
Wilson and Compton apart, Sheffield looked a sorry bunch around Armadale although Simon Cartwright showed some good signs. Scott Smith has never done much at Armadale but equalled his worst ever score only beating McAllan in his tactical substitute ride.
Paul Lee and Simon Stead appear to be going backwards. Lee was impressive two years ago and while injured in his third ride he never looked like scoring. Stead was ever more impressive last year with Peterborough but only beat McAllan. Even Peter Boast has done much better at Armadale.
Sheffield have some way to go before they can be considered as potential champions.
Man of the match: James Grieves for his first maximum
Most exciting rider: Peter Carr for a great chase and pass of Sean Wilson
Next meeting: v Stoke, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 7th May 1999
John Lowe