Edinburgh Monarchs 57: Glasgow Tigers 34
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 28th July 2000
Edinburgh secured arguably their easiest home win of the season over a dismal Glasgow side who had been expected to run things close. Edinburgh were sharper out of the gate throughout the meeting and also managed to produce passes when required. Les Collins and James Grieves were good value for Glasgow but had no real support apart from a late flurry from Rusty Harrison. Edinburgh outclassed Glasgow in all departments, particularly at second string.
Edinburgh were at full strength with Kevin Little returning after injury while Glasgow also had James Grieves back although he was far from being fully fit. Mark Courtney and Rusty Harrison made their Armadale debuts although in Harrison's case this was delayed until heat 9 as he was late arriving at the meeting.
The match somehow escaped the heavy rain that drenched the neighbouring area. There was nothing more than a few drops of rain and the track had to be watered throughout the meeting as the thunder rumbled on over Bathgate and Livingston. The pre-match parade was dispensed with because of concern about the weather.
Monarchs Captain Peter Carr lost the toss and gate position B operated with Glasgow off gates 1 and 3 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Les Collins, Blair Scott, Aidan Collins [57.3]
Robert Eriksson made the gate from trap two with Les Collins breathing down his neck. Blair Scott made a good start to sweep around Aidan Collins to secure third place. Les kept up the pressure throughout but Robert Eriksson made no mistake to win.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Christian Henry, Will Beveridge [62.1]
Glasgow went with one rider in the absence of Harrison. Will Beveridge made the start while Christian Henry just managed to cut off Scott Courtney's outside sweep from gate 4 at the second bend. Courtney spun at that point and was unable to get his bike going again and retired. Beveridge fell on the third bend but restarted to take second place.
(5-0) (9-2)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Emiliano Sanchez [Awarded]
James Grieves made the start and repulsed an early outside challenge from Ross Brady before Peter Carr took over and passed Grieves on the inside and pulled away. Ross Brady appeared to be taking an easy third place ahead of the sluggish Sanchez but fell on the third band of the third lap collecting Sanchez. The race was stopped and awarded with Brady excluded.
(3-3) (12-5)
Heat 4: Kevin Little, Mark Courtney, Christian Henry, Scott Courtney [58.9]
Mark Courtney made a start and did not appear to be a rider who had never ridden the track before. Kevin Little gave chase and after probing on the inside he eventually produced a great outside pass off the fourth bend. Christian Henry held off the challenge from the lively Scott Courtney. Henry made a slip on the last bend but recovered while Courtney fell trying to capitalize.
(4-2) (16-7)
Heat 5: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Les Collins, Aidan Collins [57.6]
Peter Carr gated ahead of Ross Brady and Les Collins. Carr allowed Brady to catch him and then team rode to keep Les at the back.
(5-1) (21-8)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott, Mark Courtney, Scott Courtney [58.7]
Scott Courtney replaced the absent Harrison as a reserve change. Robert Eriksson started well and led Mark Courtney and Blair Scott through the second bend. Blair Scott was not content with third place and continued to press eventually passed Mark on the home straight. The match was rapidly turning into a walkover.
(5-1) (26-9)
Heat 7: James Grieves, Kevin Little, Will Beveridge, Emiliano Sanchez [59.1]
James Grieves made a great second bend and held off a determined challenge from Kevin Little to record a first heat victory. Will Beveridge took an easy third place ahead of Sanchez.
(3-3) (29-12)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Les Collins, Christian Henry, Aidan Collins [58.9]
A surprising tactical move saw Les Collins introduced as a golden double tactical substitute for Scott Courtney without replacing Aidan. Blair Scott and Christian Henry made the start ahead of Aidan. Les soon made the ground up and was past Aidan and also rounded Henry early on the second lap. Blair was flying by this stage and Les was unable to make any real impression.
(4-4) (33-16)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Mark Courtney, Rusty Harrison [58.9]
Rusty Harrison had now arrived and came out to join Mark Courtney. Carr and Brady gated once more although Carr pulled ahead leaving Ross to fend for himself. There followed a fascinating duel between Mark Courtney and Ross Brady with Mark riding the white line and Ross around the outside. Ross managed to hold on for another maximum.
(5-1) (38-17)
Heat 10: Blair Scott, James Grieves, Robert Eriksson, Emiliano Sanchez [58.6]
James Grieves produced a brilliant second bend to lead Scott and Eriksson. Grieves withstood an inside surge from Eriksson and an outside attempt by Scott. Blair continued to press and swept past Grieves on the outside of the back straight to the biggest cheer of the night.
(4-2) (42-19)
Heat 11: Kevin Little, Les Collins, Rusty Harrison, Will Beveridge [58.9]
Rusty Harrison replaced Aidan Collins as a reserve change. Kevin Little came up with a great ride to defeat Les Collins. Will Beveridge fell and restarted while last.
(3-3) (45-22)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Christian Henry, Rusty Harrison [57.8]
James Grieves produced another start but Peter Carr gave chase and eventually edged ahead on the second lap. Christian Henry stayed ahead of his fellow countryman Rusty Harrison.
(4-2) (49-24)
Heat 13: Robert Eriksson, Les Collins, Kevin Little, Mark Courtney [58.8]
Eriksson and Little gated pursued by Les Collins. Eriksson pulled ahead to win easily but the battle for second went all the way to the line as Little held off Collins until Les finally passed on the last bend and withstood a surge by Little to take the decision.
(4-2) (53-26)
Heat 14: James Grieves, Rusty Harrison, Ross Brady, Christian Henry [59.3]
James Grieves came in as a tactical substitute and Rusty Harrison as a reserve change for Glasgow. Christian Henry came in as a reserve change for Will Beveridge. For once the Glasgow pair made the start and held on for a first heat advantage to give the score a degree of respectability.
(1-5) (54-31)
Heat 15: Robert Eriksson, Les Collins, James Grieves, Blair Scott [58.8]
Peter Carr sat out the last heat after his engine started making expensive noises. Blair Scott got the nod to join Robert Eriksson to face Collins and Grieves. Robert Eriksson didn't make the best start from gate 1 but took James Grieves wide on the second bend to put him out of contention. Eriksson then passed Les Collins on the outside of the third bend to lead. Blair Scott just failed to get past Grieves on the second bend but had to settle for last place.
(3-3) (57-34)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
13 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
2* |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Ross Brady |
X |
2* |
2* |
1 |
|
|
|
5+2 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
Will Beveridge |
2* |
1* |
0 |
|
|
|
3+2 |
|
|
Christian Henry |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Les Collins |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
13 |
|
Aidan Collins |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
James Grieves |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
13+1 |
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
1* |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Mark Courtney |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Rusty Harrison |
N |
0 |
1* |
0 |
2* |
3+2 |
||
|
Scott Courtney |
R |
F |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Peter Carr wasn't troubled unduly in his four rides. Robert Eriksson produced four heat wins but was headed by James Grieves in heat 10. Kevin Little also had a good meeting losing out to Grieves in heat 7 and Collins on the line in heat 13.
Ross Brady had a mixed meeting. He fell when easily holding third in his first ride and missed the start to take third in his last ride. Between these two he produced a couple of paid wins behind Peter Carr. Blair Scott was the star of the show despite finishing behind Les Collins in the opening heat and running last in the nominated heat. He held off Les Collins in the key 'golden double' challenge in heat 8 and passed Mark Courtney and James Grieves in his other two rides.
Christian Henry looked very assured scoring in every ride bar his last. Will Beveridge is still finding the Armadale track a handful and fell twice in his three rides but was still paid for five points.
Les Collins and James Grieves saved Glasgow from an 'Exeter' type score with some determined riding. Les was not making starts and failed to win a heat. James did well considering he was probably not fully fit and was unable to ride his preferred small track bike. Mark Courtney found the going tough and only beat Christian Henry of the home riders.
It was at second string that Glasgow really suffered. The only point scored by the pair of them was gifted to Sanchez by Ross Brady's heat 3 fall and exclusion. Rusty Harrison made up for his late arrival with a couple of good rides. Scott Courtney failed to score.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Blair Scott
Next home meeting: v Newport, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 4th August 2000
John Lowe