Glasgow Tigers 47: Edinburgh Monarchs 46
Premier League
Saracen Park, Ashfield
Sunday 4th June 2000
Edinburgh again missed out at Ashfield by a single point, but this time they can have few complaints. The home win was rather more comfortable than the score suggests. Monarchs reduced the leeway with a heat 12 'golden double' and also took a last heat 5-1 after the match had been settled in heat 14.
The Edinburgh riders won nine out of fifteen heats but had ten non-scoring rides. Peter Carr and Robert Eriksson dominated the meeting but received little support expect that from Ross Brady and Blair Scott.
The meeting was held on an overcast day with very light drizzle coming down at the start and gradually getting heavier as the meeting progressed.
Edinburgh were unchanged while Glasgow had James Grieves and Aidan Collins return after injury.
Monarchs' captain Peter Carr lost the toss. Gate position A was in used with Glasgow off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Robert Eriksson, Richard Juul, Will Beveridge [60.8]
James Grieves gated from Robert Eriksson and Richard Juul and that is how things finished.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Aidan Collins, Blair Scott, Scott Courtney, Christian Henry [62.9]
Aidan Collins was first out of the gate but Christian Henry stormed ahead coming off the second bend. Henry led for some time with Blair Scott pressing Collins on the outside. Christian's bike then appeared to develop a misfire and he slowed down slipping from first to last.
(4-2) (8-4)
Heat 3: Ross Brady, Mark Courtney, Emiliano Sanchez, [61.5]
Mark Courtney was first away but Ross Brady came around the outside winding it on through the first three bends before finally getting ahead off the fourth bend. Brady then won easily. Kevin Little retired early on.
(3-3) (11-7)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Les Collins, Scott Courtney, Christian Henry [60.4]
Les Collins made the start from Peter Carr. Christian Henry made a bad start and was well adrift. Carr continued to pursue Collins making strong surges up the inside. This eventually paid off and Carr pulled ahead to win a memorable race.
(3-3) (14-10)
Heat 5: Robert Eriksson, Mark Courtney, Will Beveridge, Emiliano Sanchez [61.6]
Eriksson made the start ahead of Mark Courtney wit Beveridge holding third from Sanchez. Eriksson was never under any threat although Sanchez tried to get on terms with Beveridge trying the inside line and out wide but made no impression.
(2-4) (16-14)
Heat 6: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Richard Juul, Blair Scott [60.8]
Peter Carr shot out of the gate to win easily. Blair Scott missed the start and tried everything to get past Juul.
(3-3) (19-17)
Heat 7: Ross Brady, Aidan Collins, Les Collins, Kevin Little [62.4]
Ross Brady again led but surprisingly it was Aidan Collins rather than Les who led the challenge. Kevin Little was tailed off at the back.
(3-3) (22-20)
Heat 8: Aidan Collins, Blair Scott, Scott Courtney, Will Beveridge [61.9]
Blair Scott replaced Christian Henry as a reserve change. Beveridge gated but seemed to lack speed and Aidan Collins passed. Blair Scott, who made a bad start, then passed his teammate to try and have a go at Collins. Beveridge seemed to slow down coming to the finish line and Scott Courtney won a very tight decision on the line.
(4-2) (26-22)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Mark Courtney, Blair Scott [60.7]
Peter Carr made the start for another easy win. Mark Courtney held second from Sanchez until the Argentinian lost a primary chain and retired giving Blair Scott a point o reduce the gap to two points.
(2-4) (28-26)
Heat 10: James Grieves, Richard Juul, Kevin Little [62.4]
Brady and Little gated but Kevin was soon swallowed up by Grieves and Juul. Brady looked unhappy on the track made greasy by the drizzle and was passed by both home riders before retiring. This was probably the turning point of the match.
(5-1) (33-27)
Heat 11: Les Collins, Robert Eriksson, Aidan Collins, Christian Henry [61.9]
Christian Henry replaced Will Beveridge to finish his three rides. Les Collins was away from who seemed to make little effort to get on terms. The reason for this soon became apparent with Edinburgh now 8 points behind!
(4-2) (37-29)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, Aidan Collins, Scott Courtney [62.2]
Glasgow brought in Aidan Collins in place of Sanchez who had suffered an injury in heat 9. Edinburgh did the inevitable and replaced Scott with Eriksson as a tactical substitute and also Little with Carr as a 'golden tactical'. This eventually produced the intended result but not in the way expected. Eriksson gated and Carr had caught and passed Scott Courtney by the second bend. However Eriksson seemed to hit trouble on the second bend and Aidan Collins swept past into the lead. Carr quickly passed Eriksson and passed Collins on the second bend of lap two. Eriksson made heavy weather of passing Collins who was really flying but he managed to barge his way through on the inside on the back straight of the last lap.
(1-8) (38-37)
Heat 13: Robert Eriksson, James Grieves, Les Collins, Peter Carr [61.5]
Eriksson made the start but Carr was left. He soon passed Les Collins but found it difficult to make an impression on Grieves. On the race for the line Les Collins made a surge and while he was half a bike length down on Carr he was given the decision. The referee may have been influenced by the roars from the crowd and the jingle played in the tannoy but it was a very bad decision. A correct call would have given Edinburgh a somewhat undeserved lead.
(3-3) (41-40)
Heat 14: Aidan Collins, Mark Courtney, Ross Brady, Blair Scott [62.8]
Aidan Collins made the start from Ross Brady with reserve replacement Blair Scott in last place. Brady could make no inroads in Collins's lead and was eventually passed by Mark Courtney for a home 5-1 that clinched the points.
(5-1) (46-41)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, Mark Courtney, Les Collins [62.1]
Edinburgh won the toss for gate position. Grieves decided to sit out this race and Mark Courtney joined Les Collins. Carr and Eriksson gated for an easy maximum to make the score look closer than it was in reality.
(1-5) (47-46)
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Richard Juul |
1 |
1* |
3 |
2* |
|
|
|
2+2 |
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
1* |
0 |
R |
|
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Mark Courtney |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2* |
1 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Les Collins |
2 |
1* |
3 |
1* |
|
|
|
7+2 |
|
Aidan Collins |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
10 |
|
Scott Courtney |
1 |
1* |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2* |
3 |
2* |
|
14+2 |
|
Will Beveridge |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Kevin Little |
R |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Ross Brady |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
|
18 |
|
Blair Scott |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
|
Christian Henry |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Peter Carr appeared to be trying to win the meeting against all odds. He only dropped points in heat 13 when he was denied third place by a poor call. Robert Eriksson was only beaten in his opening ride and in heat 11, which may have been 'tactical'.
Ross Brady started like a train with two great wins before fading as the track became greasy with the continuous drizzle. Kevin Little suffered mechanical problems and never seemed to get going. Beveridge looked OK in his two opening rides but seemed to be way down on power in heat 8 slipping from first to last in the process.
Blair Scott might have expected to score more points at reserve but he was at least in the points in three of his five rides. Christian Henry started brightly until engine problems robbed him of a probably win in heat 2. He was never off the pace but only had two further rides.
The Glasgow team points across the board apart from the unfortunate Sanchez who seems to have hit rock bottom in form and confidence. He is unrecognizable from the rider of last year. The under-threat Richard Juul made a great contribution. Mark Courtney looked a very solid second string despite never threatening to win a race. Aidan Collins was the real performer for Glasgow top scoring jointly with Grieves. Les Collins was slightly subdued and Grieves did enough. Scott Courtney put in a good stint at reserve.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Peter Carr
Next meeting: v Arena Essex, Premier League Cup, Purfleet on Friday 9th June 2000
John Lowe