Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 14th May 1999
After a run of very big wins for the home side at Armadale, the visit of title contenders Swindon promised a closer match. On a fine evening, this attracted the biggest crowd for some weeks to the Lothian Arena.
Alas, Swindon looked even worse equipped for Armadale than Sheffield two weeks back and at times looked as bad as Stoke last week. The match was particularly one sided until Swindon partially stemmed the tide with four tactical substitutes but ended up a well-beaten side.
Monarchs were at full strength as were Swindon. The Robins team contained three Armadale debutantes in Steve Bishop, Seemond Stephens and Steve Masters. They had in Neil Collins, now at second string, a real Armadale specialist and the winner of the first ever heat at the Arena. Glenn Cunningham has scored well in his previous two visits without ever looking near his best. Krister Marsh has done well in the past, including a win from the back over Kevin Little last year, while Olli Allen has failed to score in two visits.
Glenn Cunningham won the toss. Gate position B was used with Edinburgh off gates 2 and 4 in heat 1.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Glenn Cunningham, Blair Scott, Seemond Stephens [57.6]
James Grieves gated for an easy win in the fastest time of the season. Blair came from the back to slip inside Stephens on the second lap.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Stewart McDonald, David McAllan, Krister Marsh [59.6]
McDonald and McAllan gated and while Krister Marsh chased he was never likely to get past.
(5-1) (9-3)
Heat 3: Ross Brady, Neil Collins, Steve Bishop [59.7]
Kevin Little surged ahead from the gate followed by Ross Brady. Steve Bishop surged past Brady on the first lap but Ross came back around the outside. Bishop tried a couple of surges before allowing Collins to have a go. Just when Collins seemed poised to pass the uncomfortable looking Brady, Kevin Little pulled up on the last lap while way ahead. Brady dug deep and managed to hold on.
(3-3) (12-6)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Stewart McDonald, Olli Allen [58.1]
Carr went ahead from the gate followed by Masters and McDonald. Stewart then cut under Masters on the fourth bend of the first lap as Masters hit the fence and was excluded. In the re-run, Carr and McDonald had an easy win over Allen who collected his first point at Armadale.
(5-1) (17-7)
Heat 5: Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Glenn Cunningham [62.4]
Cunningham was first out of the gate but Kevin Little cut inside him on the back straight of the first lap as Ross Brady surged around the outside. Cunningham then made an error on the fourth bend and slipped to last place. Seemond Stephens fell while third allowing Cunningham back into third place.
(5-1) (22-8)
Heat 6: James Grieves, Steve Masters, Blair Scott, Krister Marsh [58.5]
Grieves made another start ahead of Scott. Steve Masters gave chase and was starting to get a feel for the track. The race for second was good value and while most thought that Blair had taken second. Even the Swindon fans were amazed then Masters was given second place.
(4-2) (26-10)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, David McAllan, Steve Bishop [Awarded]
Peter Carr was first away but Neil Collins swept around from gate 4 to edge ahead on the back straight. Carr lost little time in bustling his way back in front. Meanwhile McAllan was easily holding off Bishop. On the last lap, Collins fell and caused the race to be stopped and awarded.
(5-1) (31-11)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Stewart McDonald, Olli Allen [59.2]
Another 5-1 for Monarchs as Scott and McDonald easily beat Allen after Stephens dropped out with a misfiring engine.
(5-1) (36-12)
Heat 9: Kevin Little, Steve Masters, Ross Brady, Krister Marsh [59.1]
Little and Brady gated from Masters who then gave chase and passed Brady.
(4-2) (40-14)
Heat 10: James Grieves, Neil Collins, Blair Scott, Steve Bishop [58.4]
Monarchs assured a match win with a four-two heat advantage with Grieves looking unstoppable.
(4-2) (44-16)
Heat 11:, Peter Carr, Glenn Cunningham, Steve Masters, David McAllan [58.2]
Steve Masters came in for Stephens as a tactical substitute. Neither Masters nor Cunningham could stop Peter Carr.
(3-3) (47-19)
Heat 12: Neil Collins, Kevin Little, Stewart McDonald, Steve Bishop [59.1]
Neil Collins, in as a tactical substitute for Marsh, won the first heat for Swindon ahead of Little and McDonald.
(3-3) (50-22)
Heat 13: James Grieves, Peter Carr, Steve Masters, Glenn Cunningham [58.1]
James Grieves, from the gate, and Peter Carr, from the back, had a great win over Masters and Cunningham.
(5-1) (55-23)
Heat 14: Neil Collins, Ross Brady, Glenn Cunningham [59.3]
Swindon put in Glenn Cunningham to replace Oliver Allen. Neil Collins was away ahead of Ross Brady with David McAllan holding off Glenn Cunningham for nearly three laps. McAllan then fell and Cunningham did a good job avoiding McAllan to pick up a gift point and a heat advantage for the visitors.
(2-4) (57-27)
Heat 15: James Grieves, Peter Carr, Steve Masters, Neil Collins [58.5]
James Grieves surged ahead from the gate ahead of Pickering and Little to secure his second successive full maximum. Little never gave up and managed to pass Pickering on the line.
(5-1) (62-28)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
|
Kevin Little |
E |
2* |
3 |
2 |
|
7+1 |
|
|
Ross Brady |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
9 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
2* |
|
13+2 |
|
David McAllan |
2* |
2* |
0 |
F |
|
|
4+2 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
3 |
2* |
2* |
2 |
|
|
8+3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swindon Robins |
|
|
|
||||
|
Glenn Cunningham |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
6 |
|
Seemond Stephens |
0 |
F |
R |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Steve Bishop |
1* |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2+1 |
||
|
Neil Collins |
2 |
X |
2 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
|
Steve Masters |
X |
2 |
2 |
1* |
1 |
1 |
7+1 |
|
Krister Marsh |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Olli Allen |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
James Grieves had a third successive Armadale full maximum. He was absolutely immaculate and never looked like losing a race. Peter Carr produced his fifth successive paid maximum at Armadale and was also untroubled. Kevin Little suffered an engine failure when well ahead in his first race and thereafter was only headed by tactical substitute Neil Collins in heat 12.
Ross Brady still looks a little uncomfortable at number 4 but nobody is going to complain after a score of nine points with two heat wins. Blair once again scored in every heat but seems destined for reserve with the next set of Green Sheets.
Stewart McDonald had a paid score of eleven missing out to tactical substitute, Neil Collins, in heat 12. McAllan never gave up and after starting with two paid wins suffered from tactical substitutes in his last two rides.
Glenn Cunningham looked disinterested throughout and made no real impact. Steve Masters was good value despite not making any starts and was always trying to pass. Neil Collins, surprisingly back at second string secured the only two race wins for Swindon.
The rest of the Swindon team scored only five points between them. Bishop faded after a bright opening and Allen broke his duck at Armadale.
Man of the match: James Grieves for another full house
Most exciting rider: Peter Carr for a thrilling ride in heat 13
Next meeting: v Workington, Premier League, Derwent Park on Saturday 15th May 1999
John Lowe