Glasgow Tigers 44: Edinburgh Monarchs 46
Scottish Cup
Saracen Park, Ashfield
Sunday 1st October 2000
Glasgow v Edinburgh once again produced a tight match with Monarchs emerging the victors this time. It took a last heat 5-1 from Peter Carr and Kevin Little to turn around the match that Glasgow had led for most of the way.
While both Peter Carr and Robert Eriksson failed to hit their best Ashfield form, support came from the whole of the team especially from Kevin Little who produced his best score of the season. Will Beveridge also came up with a couple of critical heat wins especially in heat 14 when Monarchs were on the ropes.
The meeting went ahead under an overcast sky with a threat of rain that never materialized.
Edinburgh were without Ross Brady after his fall on Friday and used rider replacement. Glasgow used Derek Sneddon at number 7 in place of Scott Courtney.
Monarchs' captain Peter Carr won the toss. Gate position B was in used with Edinburgh off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Les Collins, Aidan Collins, Blair Scott [59.6]
Robert Eriksson shot out of the gate and pulled ahead of Les Collins to win by a huge margin. Blair Scott was stuck at the back behind Aidan Collins.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Will Beveridge, Christian Henry, Rusty Harrison [62.7]
Will Beveridge and Christian Henry made the start and while Beveridge won without any threat, Rusty Harrison pressured his compatriot all the way. Derek Sneddon retired with engine problems soon after the start.
(1-5) (4-8)
Heat 3: James Grieves, Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Emiliano Sanchez [61.5]
Blair Scott came in as rider replacement for Brady. Grieves gated and Peter Carr never really looked like getting through on the inside line. Blair Scott managed to pass Emiliano Sanchez to tie the heat.
(3-3) (7-11)
Heat 4: Mark Courtney, Rusty Harrison, Kevin Little [62.1]
With Sneddon struggling to sort his engine problems of Rusty Harrison was brought in as a reserve replacement. Courtney and Harrison made the start ahead of Little. Christian Henry fell but to his credit cleared his bike away immediately rather than getting the heat stopped to give Little another chance.
(5-1) (12-12)
Heat 5: James Grieves, Emiliano Sanchez, Blair Scott [Awarded]
Grieves made the start with Eriksson right on his tail. Eriksson had a go at an outside pass on the fourth bend but Grieves moved across and nearly put him into the fence. Eriksson was obviously unhappy judging by the way he gesticulated towards the referee's box on his way past. Eriksson had another go on the next lap and passed Grieves on the inside. Grieves tried to come back as Eriksson moved out. Grieves might have been expected to cut inside but instead went into the first bend fence. The referee excluded Eriksson and awarded the heat. Grieves at this point went berserk and chased after Eriksson hitting him over the head from behind. He was fined £250 by referee Graham Reeve.
(5-1) (17-13)
Heat 6: Les Collins, Kevin Little, Aidan Collins, Will Beveridge [61.5]
Kevin Little gated ahead of Les Collins. Will Beveridge made a fair start but took a hit on the second bend and slipped to the back. Les Collins had no problems in passing Little to extend the lead.
(4-2) (21-15)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Mark Courtney, Kevin Little, Derek Sneddon [60.9]
Monarchs brought in Kevin Little as a tactical substitute for rider replacement. Perhaps anticipating this Glasgow brought in Sneddon for Harrison. While Carr won the heat, Courtney too second place and the tactical substitution failed to pay off. Sneddon ode a good heat and was certainly on the pace.
(2-4) (23-19)
Heat 8: Aidan Collins, Blair Scott, Scott Courtney, Will Beveridge [62.9]
Glasgow put in Harrison for Sneddon and he secured a heat win after passing Blair Scott while Aidan Collins took third to restore the six-point home lead.
(4-2) (27-21)
Heat 9: Kevin Little, James Grieves, Blair Scott, Emiliano Sanchez [62.3]
Monarchs replaced Will Beveridge with Blair Scott as a tactical substitute. Kevin Little led the fightback with a tapes to flag win over James Grieves. While most attention was being paid to the battle for the lead, Blair Scott nipped past Sanchez on the last bend.
(2-4) (29-25)
Heat 10: Peter Carr, Les Collins, Kevin Little, Aidan Collins [61.4]
Kevin Little came in as rider replacement to join Carr. The two Monarchs gated and looked set to tie the scores up but Les Collins produced a last bend pass of Little.
(2-4) (31-29)
Heat 11: Robert Eriksson, Mark Courtney, Blair Scott, Derek Sneddon [62.5]
Derek Sneddon came in for Harrison to clear his third ride. Mark Courtney taped and with Harrison already having been replaced Glasgow had no option but to bring him back in on a 15m handicap. Eriksson and Scott led the way although a chase by Courtney was rewarded with second place after he passed Scott.
(2-4) (33-33)
Heat 12: Rusty Harrison, James Grieves, Peter Carr, Will Beveridge [61.9]
Harrison replaced Sneddon as a reserve change. Carr missed the start completely and appeared to be balked by Beveridge on the second bend. This allowed Harrison to establish a lead backed by Grieves that Carr was unable to do anything about.
(5-1) (38-34)
Heat 13: Kevin Little, Les Collins, Robert Eriksson, Mark Courtney [62.5]
Eriksson and Little made the gate and seemed sure to level the scores but Les Collins produced another late pass to split the Monarchs pairing.
(2-4) (40-38)
Heat 14: Will Beveridge, Emiliano Sanchez, Rusty Harrison, Christian Henry [63.2]
Edinburgh were in real trouble since Little and Scott had already taken their rider replacement outings and no tactical substitutions were possible because the margin was down to two points. Monarchs had no option but to use Beveridge as rider replacement to join reserve partner Henry to face Sanchez and the on-form Harrison. Beveridge did not let anyone down and sped from the gate and held on to win despite the close attentions of both Sanchez and Harrison. This kept Monarchs still in contention.
(3-3) (43-41)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Kevin Little, James Grieves, Les Collins [61.8]
Edinburgh opted for Kevin Little to join Carr in the last heat decider. Eriksson was said to have withdrawn after developing a headache following the rabbit punch administered by Grieves. However Little's wins in heats 9 and 13 made a strong case for his inclusion anyway. Whatever the reasons the partnership worked to perfection with Carr making the gate and Little staying with him as Grieves tried to get past. This was a poor tactical race by Glasgow as Grieves should have let Les Collins through to mount an assault on Little rather than keeping him stuck at the back.
(1-5) (44-46)
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Les Collins |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
9 |
|
Aidan Collins |
1* |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2* |
1 |
|
|
11+1 |
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
0 |
2* |
0 |
2 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Mark Courtney |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Rusty Harrison |
1 |
2* |
3 |
3 |
1* |
|
|
10+2 |
|
Derek Sneddon |
R |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
X |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
1* |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
6+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
12 |
|
Ross Brady |
Rider replacement |
|
|
|
(6+1) |
|||
|
Kevin Little |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2* |
13+1 |
|
Will Beveridge |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Christian Henry |
2* |
F |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
2+1 |
Kevin Little was the unlikely hero of this win after scoring only a single point in each of his last two visits to Ashfield. Neither Carr nor Eriksson were quite at their best but did enough. Blair Scott was generally in the points. Will Beveridge produced the key heat 14 win that kept Monarchs in the match. Christian Henry produced a good second place in heat 2 despite looking slightly uncertain but failed to score after that.
Les Collins proved that he can still pass with the best of them but he appeared rather slow at times. Grieves clearly lost the plot after heat 5 and didn't help Glasgow's cause by impeding Les Collins in the last heat. Mark Courtney was steady. Rusty Harrison stood out after some great riding and a big score. Derek Sneddon was always on the pace but found life hard after being given the tougher rides for tactical reasons.
Man of the match: Kevin Little
Most exciting rider: Les Collins
Next home meeting: v Young Shield First Round tie, Armadale on Friday 6th October 2000
John Lowe