Edinburgh Monarchs 47: Glasgow Tigers 40
Spring Trophy
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 24th March 2000
A five-rider Edinburgh team produced a great fightback to beat Glasgow. Monarchs were already 5-1 down when a heat two crash ruled out Brian Turner, Christian Henry and Scott Courtney. Turner and Courtney suffered wrist injuries while Henry had concussion. With the heat awarded to Aidan Collins, this left Edinburgh 8-1 down with no reserves and facing having to go out with one rider in six of the remaining thirteen heats. Glasgow were without Scott Courtney but were able to use Aidan Collins to cover all heats.
Edinburgh's remaining riders dug in and contained the threat of James Grieves and Les Collins. Monarchs were in the lead by the end of heat five and stayed ahead. Robert Eriksson put on a great display despite having to go out alone in three heats.
The weather was unsettled after rain earlier in the day on a cold March night. The crowd was very large although the bad weather ensured it was not the record attendance that Monarchs had hoped for.
Monarchs Captain Peter Carr lost the toss as he predecessor did so many times last year. Gate position B was in used with Glasgow off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Sean Courtney, Blair Scott, Kevin Little [61.4]
Monarchs looked up against it in the heat especially after Glasgow won the toss. Grieves made the start and was not troubled. Little and Scott appeared to be filling the minor places but Courtney had a better line and swept into second place. Little and Scott came back and passed on either side of Courtney on the second lap. Sean was not finished and took advantage of a slip by Kevin and passed Blair. He hung on despite a valiant attempt by Blair to pass.
(1-5) (1-5)
Heat 2: Aidan Collins [Awarded]
The Glasgow pair made the start with Brian Turner pushing hard on the inside. Christian Henry completely missed the start but came back with astonishing speed and was carving his way through the field when he overdid things on the fourth bend bringing down Turner and Courtney. Henry was excluded. With Brian Turner and Scott Courtney both ruled out with wrist injuries, the heat was awarded to Collins.
(0-3) (1-8)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Richard Juul, Emiliano Sanchez [61.6]
Peter Carr and Ross Brady swept ahead and with Sanchez struggling with a misfiring engine, Juul could make no impression.
(5-1) (6-9)
Heat 4: Robert Eriksson, Les Collins, Aidan Collins [60.6]
Christian Henry was excluded under 2 minutes and took no further part in the meeting through concussion. Robert Eriksson made an impression on his return with a storming win over Les Collins.
(3-3) (9-12)
Heat 5: Ross Brady, Peter Carr, James Grieves, Aidan Collins [61.1]
Aidan Collins came in to replace Scott Courtney. Carr and Brady had a very easy win over Grieves to put Monarchs ahead.
(5-1) (14-13)
Heat 6: Kevin Little, Les Collins, Blair Scott, Aidan Collins [61.5]
Kevin Little, having switched to his second bike, produced a very good win over Les Collins with Blair Scott third.
(4-2) (18-15)
Heat 7: Robert Eriksson, Richard Juul, Emiliano Sanchez [61.7]
Robert Eriksson out alone once more had a very easy win over Juul. Sanchez was again suffering from a misfiring engine but struggled around for the point on offer.
(3-3) (21-18)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Sean Courtney, Aidan Collins [62.4]
Blair Scott won another three-rider heat after an initial battle with Sean Courtney who was always in close attendance.
(3-3) (24-21)
Heat 9: Les Collins, Ross Brady, Aidan Collins [62.1]
Peter Carr lost a chain at the start. Ross Brady made the start but appeared to be looking around for Carr when he was caught napping by Les and Aidan Collins. Thanks to intelligent team riding by Les, Ross had a hard time recovering second position but me made it in the end.
(2-4) (26-25)
Heat 10: Kevin Little, Blair Scott, Richard Juul, Emiliano Sanchez [61.3]
A great 5-1 for Little and Scott over Juul and the struggling Sanchez.
(5-1) (31-26)
Heat 11: James Grieves, Robert Eriksson, Sean Courtney [61.7]
Eriksson missed the start for once and ended in last place. Robert battled hard and seemed to be set for a last try at passing Courtney going into the third bend on the last lap when Sean slowed down with engine probelms.
(2-4) (33-30)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Richard Juul, Aidan Collins [60.6]
Peter Carr missed the start but cut inside Juul and Collins and passed on the back straight to win with ease.
(3-3) (36-33)
Heat 13: Robert Eriksson, Les Collins, Kevin Little, James Grieves [60.5]
Eriksson and Little gated but Les Collins carved through the field from the back passing Little and eventually Eriksson. Little managed to hold off Grieves while Eriksson repassed Collins for a great win.
(4-2) (40-35)
Heat 14: Emiliano Sanchez, Ross Brady, Aidan Collins [61.6]
Ross Brady made the start with Sanchez chasing. Brady seemed to lose concentration and went off line allowing Sanchez to pass.
(2-4) (42-39)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, James Grieves, Les Collins [60.1]
Grieves pushed Carr wide and nearly 'fenced him. Referee McLeod called an unsatisfactory start with all four back. The rerun turned out to be a three-way battle between Eriksson, Grieves and Carr. While Eriksson was in the lead, Grieves was pushing hard and pinning Carr to the white line. Carr eventually produced an extravagant passing movement to go from third to first. Carr won in the fastest time of the night.
(5-1) (47-40)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Kevin Little |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
2* |
E |
3 |
3 |
|
|
11+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
2* |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
9+1 |
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
13+1 |
|
Brian Turner |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Christian Henry |
X |
N |
N |
N |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
8 |
|
|
Sean Courtney |
2* |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
5+1 |
|
Richard Juul |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
6 |
||
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
0 |
1* |
0 |
3 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Les Collins |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
9 |
|
Aidan Collins |
3 |
1* |
0 |
1* |
1 |
1* |
1 |
8+3 |
|
Scott Courtney |
N |
|
|
|
|
0 |
||
Robert Eriksson made a triumphant return to Edinburgh and dropped only one point, to James Grieves. Peter Carr only dropped points due to shedding a chain. Kevin Little did well in the number 1 position after running last in heat 1. He changed bikes and looked impressive with wins over Les Collins and James Grieves.
Ross Brady looked set for a maximum after two impressive rides but a couple of lapses in concentration restricted him to a paid ten points. Blair Scott was good value finishing with two paid wins. Neither Brian Turner nor Christian Henry finished a lap.
While all eyes were on Grieves, he failed to shine despite a couple of good wins. Les Collins produced some excellent rides but surprisingly failed to make double figures. Sanchez struggled with carburetor problems but produced a good pass on Brady in his last ride.
Juul made six points and Aidan Collins was paid eleven yet neither beat an Edinburgh rider. Aidan did ride quite well and was never off the pace. Sean Courtney started well with a paid win and was rather unlucky in his last ride. Apart from heat 1 all his points were gifted.
Man of the match: Robert Eriksson
Most exciting rider: Peter Carr
Next home meeting: v Sheffield, Premiership, Armadale on Friday 31st March 1999
John Lowe