Berwick Bandits 52: Edinburgh Monarchs 37
Premier League
Shielfield Park, Berwick
Saturday 17th June 2000
Edinburgh went down to the Bandits despite taking an early lead. The injury hit Berwick team pulled a real rabbit out of the hat by booking Paul Thorp to replace Scott Lamb. With rider replacement operating for Scott Smith and Thorp getting an extra ride, the Hull captain effectively won the match with a fifteen-point paid maximum.
Edinburgh went ahead following a 5-1 in heat 2 but as soon as Berwick overturned that in heat 4 to lead, the match was over as a contest. The racing was virtually non-existent except when Mogridge missed the gate.
The lead was at least contained to fifteen points giving Edinburgh an attainable target for the bonus point in the return.
Edinburgh won a rare toss and took gates 1 and 3 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Paul Bentley, Dean Felton, Will Beveridge
[66.9]Rider replacement Dean Felton made a rapid start from gate 4 but Eriksson made a better one from the inside. Paul Bentley took up the chase but did not look like passing Eriksson. Beveridge tried his best to get inside Felton but had no success.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Christian Henry, Blair Scott, Phil Pickering, Dean Felton [70.0]
While most were expecting a Dean Felton-Blair Scott battle, it was Christian Henry who blasted out of gate 4 to lead. Blair Scott tucked in behind him and protected his back for an untroubled maximum.
(1-5) (4-8)
Heat 3: Paul Thorp, Kevin Little, David Meldrum [67.2]
Ross Brady was excluded for touching the tapes and was replaced by Blair Scott. Paul Thorp led from Little and Scott. Meldrum tried to get inside Scott on the third bend a couple of times but Scott using the grip out wide was able to retain position. One the last lap Meldrum appeared to have got his nose in front when Scott fell on the exit to the third bend.
(4-2) (8-10)
Heat 4: Alan Mogridge, Dean Felton, Peter Carr, Christian Henry [66.9]
Dull processional heat with Mogridge leading from Felton. Peter Carr couldn't find the speed to challenge Felton.
(5-1) (13-11)
Heat 5: David Meldrum. Paul Thorp, Robert Eriksson, Will Beveridge
[67.2]Meldrum gated from Eriksson with Thorp pressing all the way. Eventually Thorp was rewarded on the last lap when he swooped from the fourth bend banking to catch Eriksson dreaming and pass just before the line.
(5-1) (18-12)
Heat 6: Paul Bentley, Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Phil Pickering
[66.8]Another drab processional heat with Bentley winning from the tapes. Rider replacement Phil Pickering was last somewhat off the pace.
(3-3) (21-15)
Heat 7: Ross Brady, Alan Mogridge, Kevin Little, Phil Pickering [66.8]
Brady and Little gated leaving Mogridge to commence a charge from the back. Kevin Little provided enough resistance to make Mogridge work hard for second place and allow Ross Brady to get away. Mogridge did his best to catch Brady but was unable to pass.
(2-4) (23-19)
Heat 8: Paul Thorp, Dean Felton, Will Beveridge, Christian Henry [67.6]
With the gap back to four points, no tactical substitutes could be used. With Paul Thorp in as rider replacement, the result was a foregone conclusion after another processional heat.
(5-1) (28-20)
Heat 9: Paul Thorp, Peter Carr, Blair Scott, David Meldrum
[66.5]Another easy win for Thorp ahead of Carr. Meldrum fell in fourth place and restarted. Tactical substitute Ross Brady also fell but started up still well ahead of Meldrum.
(3-3) (31-23)
Heat 10: Paul Bentley, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Phil Pickering
[68.1]Brady appeared to be first away but Bentley edged ahead on the second bend to win. Brady and Little tied the heat finishing ahead of rider replacement Phil Pickering.
(3-3) (34-26)
Heat 11: Alan Mogridge, Robert Eriksson, Kevin Little, Phil Pickering [67.0]
Kevin Little joined Eriksson coming in as a tactical substitute for Beveridge. The Monarchs pairing were first away. Mogridge was past Little very quickly this time and had few problems sweeping past Eriksson off the fourth bend. Phil Pickering in as a reserve change for Felton was again last.
(3-3) (37-29)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Dean Felton [69.4]
Tactical substitute Peter Carr, on what appeared to be Ross Brady's bike, made his first start but Kevin Little fell on the second bend and was unable to move with his leg trapped under the bike. In the rerun with Little excluded, Carr again made the start and won from Felton after Meldrum broke down.
(2-3) (39-32)
Heat 13: Alan Mogridge, Paul Bentley, Peter Carr [66.4]
Mogridge and Bentley made the start and that was that. Eriksson retired with engine problems.
(5-1) (44-33)
Heat 14: Paul Thorp, Ross Brady, Blair Scott, Dean Felton [67.8]
Felton replaced Pickering as a reserve change. Instead of Eriksson coming in as a tactical substitute for Henry, Edinburgh brought in Blair Scott. Paul Bentley sped away to complete his paid maximum while Brady and Scott had no problems keeping Felton at the back.
(3-3) (47-34)
Heat 15: Paul Bentley, Alan Mogridge, Peter Carr, Ross Brady [66.7]
Bentley swept ahead with Mogridge alongside Carr. This continued for around a lap with Carr trying to get through on the inside and Mogridge out wide until the home rider established a lead.
(5-1) (52-35)
|
Berwick Bandits |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Paul Bentley |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
3 |
|
|
13+1 |
|
Scott Smith |
Rider replacement |
|
|
(4+1) |
||||
|
David Meldrum |
1 |
3 |
0 |
E |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Paul Thorp |
3 |
2* |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
14+1 |
|
Alan Mogridge |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
13+1 |
|
Phil Pickering |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Dean Felton |
1* |
0 |
2* |
2* |
0 |
2 |
0 |
7+3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
1 |
2 |
R |
|
6 |
||
|
Will Beveridge |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
1 |
|||
|
Kevin Little |
2 |
1 |
1* |
2 |
2 |
X |
|
5+2 |
|
Ross Brady |
T |
3 |
1* |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
8+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
10 |
|
Blair Scott |
2* |
F |
1* |
1* |
|
|
|
4+3 |
|
Christian Henry |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
For once, it was the top two Edinburgh riders who failed to deliver. They produced only 16 points between them as against the 28 delivered on Monarchs previous visit to Shielfield. Peter Carr seemed to lack speed while Eriksson also had machine problems. The middle order did better although Beveridge is still not getting out of the gate quick enough. Monarchs' reserves scored 7 points paid 10, as opposed to 1 on the previous encounter.
Ross Brady was good value as was Blair Scott. Kevin Little didn't have his best meeting but he did get manage to get some points on the board. Christian Henry showed what he can do when he gates in his heat 2 win. Overall, Monarchs won only four heats and can probably be thankful that they are not facing a 20-point deficit.
Paul Thorp was tremendous not only taking a five-ride maximum but also setting the fastest time of the season in heat 6. Bentley was solid and unbeaten after being outgated by Eriksson in heat 1. Mogridge was the most (only) entertaining rider in the Bandits line-up. Meldrum had a off day with a fall and an engine failure. Dean Felton was good if he made the gate but unlikely to score otherwise.
Man of the match: Paul Thorp
Most exciting rider: Alan Mogridge
Next meeting: v Arena Essex, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 23rd June 2000
John Lowe