Berwick Bandits 49: Edinburgh Monarchs 41
Premier National Trophy
Shielfield Park, Berwick
Saturday 15th April 2000
Edinburgh despite tracking what was virtually a three-man team ran the powerful Berwick team quite close in their Premier National Trophy opener at Shielfield Park.
Edinburgh were without key second string and noted Berwick track specialist Ross Brady and operated with rider replacement. Brian Turner finished only one heat and looked far from fit while Christian Henry also finished only one heat due to engine problems. With Kevin Little having another poor away match, this put the pressure on Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson and Blair Scott who responded magnificently.
Heat 1: Paul Bentley, Alan Mogridge, Kevin Little, Blair Scott
[68.5]A predictable maximum from the powerful Berwick top partnership.
(5-1) (5-1)
Heat 2: Freddie Stephenson, Steven McAllister, Christian Henry [70.2]
Two heats gone and Monarchs are eight points adrift after Brian Turner retired and Christian Henry trailed.
(5-1) (10-2)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, David Meldrum, Scott Lamb, Kevin Little [67.3]
Kevin Little came in as ride replacement for Brady but ran last. Peter Carr won to steady things.
(3-3) (13-5)
Heat 4: Robert Eriksson, Scott Smith [68.8]
Robert Eriksson won from Scott Smith after first Christian Henry retired with engine problems and Freddie Stephenson was excluded after being lapped.
(3-3) (15-8)
Heat 5: David Meldrum. Scott Lamb, Blair Scott
[67.7]Another maximum against Edinburgh's top partnership with Kevin Little's nightmare continuing as he retired.
(5-1) (20-9)
Heat 6: Alan Mogridge, Robert Eriksson, Paul Bentley, Brian Turner
[67.4]Monarchs slipped further behind with Mogridge winning but Eriksson stayed ahead of Bentley.
(4-2) (24-11)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Scott Smith, Steven McAllister [68.1]
The fightback commences! Blair Scott in as rider replacement backs up Peter Carr to a heat maximum.
(1-5) (25-16)
Heat 8: Alan Mogridge, Blair Scott, Robert Eriksson, Freddie Stephenson [68.3]
Robert Eriksson came in as a tactical substitute for Christian Henry to join Blair Scott but could do little about Alan Mogridge.
(3-3) (28-19)
Heat 9: Robert Eriksson, Scott Lamb, David Meldrum
[68.2]Brian Turner retired but Eriksson won his second race ahead of Lamb and Meldrum.
(3-3) (31-22)
Heat 10: Alan Mogridge, Peter Carr, Paul Bentley
[68.1]Peter Carr lost out in the battle of the two maximum men. Rider replacement Christian Henry failed to start and with Bentley taking third place the lead was stretched.
(4-2) (35-24)
Heat 11: Scott Smith, Blair Scott, Kevin Little, Steven McAllister [69.4]
Blair Scott and Kevin Little tied the heat after filling the minor placings behind Scott Smith.
(3-3) (38-27)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Freddie Stephenson, Blair Scott, Scott Lamb [68.0]
Blair Scott came in as a tactical substitute for Brian Turner. A good second place for Stephenson after passing Blair Scott, although Scott Lamb was surprisingly at the back as Peter Carr resumed his winning ways.
(2-4) (40-31)
Heat 13: Scott Smith, Robert Eriksson, Paul Bentley, Kevin Little [68.4]
Smith and Bentley edged Berwick further ahead although Eriksson split them.
(4-2) (44-33)
Heat 14: Peter Carr, David Meldrum, Kevin Little, Freddie Stephenson [67.4]
Virtually all change with Peter Carr and Kevin Little coming in as tactical substitutes for rider replacement and Christian Henry. Freddie Stephenson replaced Steven McAllister as a reserve change. Carr won as expected ahead of Meldrum and Little.
(2-4) (46-37)
Heat 15: Alan Mogridge, Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Scott Smith [68.2]
Eriksson and Carr made the start but were easily overhauled by Alan Mogridge to complete his paid maximum.
(3-3) (49-40)
|
Berwick Bandits |
|
|
|
||||
|
Paul Bentley |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
|
Alan Mogridge |
2* |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
14+1 |
|
Scott Lamb |
1* |
2* |
2 |
0 |
|
|
5+2 |
|
David Meldrum |
2 |
3 |
1* |
2 |
|
8+1 |
|
|
Scott Smith |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
9 |
|
Steven McAllister |
2* |
0 |
0 |
|
2+1 |
||
|
Freddie Stephenson |
3 |
X |
0 |
2 |
R |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
Kevin Little |
1 |
0 |
R |
1* |
0 |
1 |
3+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
1 |
2* |
2 |
2 |
1 |
8+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1* |
15+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
Rider replacement |
|
(4+1) |
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
2 |
1* |
3 |
2 |
2 |
13+1 |
|
Brian Turner |
R |
0 |
R |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Christian Henry |
1 |
R |
N |
|
1 |
||
Monarchs were always up against it without Ross Brady. This was especially the case with both reserves struggling. Brian Turner is obviously not yet fit enough to tackle a tough circuit like Shielfield Park while Christian Henry has mechanical problems.
The other problems for Monarchs are centred around Kevin Little's away form. Kevin has been at least holding his own in the number one spot at Armadale but his away scores make depressing reading. He is unrecognizable from the rider who twice scored 13 plus 1 from five rides in 1999 at Berwick.
On the positive side, Peter Carr continued his excellent away form. Peter has now taken seventeen rides in three away matches and won thirteen of them. Two of his defeats came at Sheffield when riding a underpowered bike borrowed from Joe Screen. At Berwick his only reverses came from Alan Mogridge. Robert Eriksson has so far exceeded expectations with some powerful away performances and did not disappoint.
The real revelation has been Blair Scott. While Blair scored well at Armadale last season, he struggled on the road. This year he has been flying on all his away matches. Blair described Berwick as his least favourite track on Friday (mind you he said much the same about Newport two weeks earlier). He belied this with another solid scoring job. If he can rediscover his Armadale form, he looks certain to be rewarded with a heat leaders' race jacket on the first set of Green Sheets.
Alan Mogridge was the star man for the home team with support from Scott Smith and David Meldrum. Scott Lamb and Paul Bentley failed to live up to their billing while Freddie Stephenson had a good match.
Next meeting: v Workington, Premier National Trophy, Armadale on Friday 21st April 2000
John Lowe