Newport Wasps 61: Edinburgh Monarchs 29
Premier League
Queensway Meadow, Newport
Sunday 2nd July 2000
Edinburgh suffered their biggest defeat for some time. While the scoreline was dismal it was not down to lack of effort but they found the revitalized Wasps unstoppable on an overcast day. As ever at Newport, gating was at a premium and most heats were over by the second bend. The match did provide some great racing in particular heat 12 where Monarchs secured their only heat advantage with Kevin Little coming from the back on the last lap to secure a 5-1.
Edinburgh were at full strength and introduced their new order with Blair Scott back at number 2. Peter Carr reverted back to number 5 and Kevin Little to number 3. Newport had Scott Swain in for the injured Andrew Appleton.
Edinburgh won the toss and opted for gate position B.
Heat 1: Anders Henriksson, Robert Eriksson, Craig Taylor, Blair Scott [59.7]
Eriksson and Henriksson were side by side and Eriksson edged his compatriot into the first bend fence. All four were invited back for the re-run. Second time around and Henriksson managed to edge ahead at the first bend to win. Craig Taylor got away from Blair Scott to take third place.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Jon Armstrong, Chris Courage, Will Beveridge, Christian Henry [62.4]
Beveridge and Henry made fair starts but the home rider were ahead by the second bend for a maximum.
(5-1) (9-3)
Heat 3: Chris Neath, Kevin Little, Scott Swain, Ross Brady [60.9]
Chris Neath made the gate and was pushed hard all the way by Kevin Little as Scott Swain held off Ross Brady.
(4-2) (13-5)
Heat 4: Ben Howe, Peter Carr, Chris Courage [59.6]
Howe outgate Carr but Christian Henry took out Chris Courage and was excluded. Howe again made the start in the re-run.
(4-2) (17-7)
Heat 5: Scott Swain, Chris Neath, Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott [61.3]
Neath gated from Eriksson and Swain. By the second bend, Swain was ahead. The heat featured a great battle between Neath and Eriksson which continued right up to the line. Eriksson tried everything to pass and was alongside Neath for much of the time.
(5-1) (22-8)
Heat 6: Anders Henriksson, Peter Carr, Craig Taylor, Will Beveridge [60.2]
Henriksson gated from Carr to deliver another home heat advantage.
(4-2) (26-10)
Heat 7: Ben Howe, Jon Armstrong, Kevin Little, Ross Brady [60.5]
Howe made another start followed by Little and Brady but the two Edinburgh riders both drifted wide on the second bend allowing Jon Armstrong to cut through on the inside. Kevin Little chased hard but could make no impression.
(5-1) (31-11)
Heat 8: Chris Courage, Craig Taylor, Christian Henry [62.7]
Changes were expected against the weakest of the Wasp's pairings. Many thought a Carr/Eriksson golden double substitution was in order. However Eriksson was brought in as a straight tactical substitution for Blair Scott. Eriksson shot out of the gate and was way ahead but hit trouble, possible mechanical, and locked up on the fourth bend of lap two. He was so far ahead that he was able to clear his bike from the track before the others arrived.
(5-1) (36-12)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Chris Neath, Scott Swain [61.8]
Chris Neath was first away with Carr in close attendance. They drifted wide going into the second bend and Scott Swain nipped though. Carr then disposed of Neath before setting off after Swain. Meanwhile Beveridge fell on the second lap but cleared his bike from the racing line. Carr was all over Swain for two laps before Swain hit the notorious fourth bend rut on the third lap and Carr was able to pass. Swain then hit the same rut on the last bend and fell off. Neath finished safely in second place behind Carr. The race finished with the farcical situation as Beveridge pushed over the line to claim third place with Swain back in the pits. Since Beveridge was always going to be excluded for being lapped, Swain was urged to come back on the track and push home. He did so and amazingly was awarded third place!
(3-3) (39-15)
Heat 10: Anders Henriksson, Craig Taylor, Kevin Little, Ross Brady [60.9]
Henriksson had no problems keeping his 100% record but Craig Taylor managed to hold off Kevin Little for yet another home maximum.
(5-1) (44-16)
Heat 11: Ben Howe, Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott [Awarded]
Eriksson and Scott made the gate only for Howe to come from last to first between the third bend and the end of the fourth lap. He passed inside teammate Jon Armstrong on the third bend then went outside Scott coming out of the third bend and cut inside Eriksson. Armstrong fell on the third bend of lap three and the race was stopped and awarded.
(3-3) (47-19)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Kevin Little, Chris Courage, Scott Swain [61.1]
Peter Carr replaced Will Beveridge as a tactical substitute. It was Chris Courage who made the gate but Carr swept around the outside to lead by the back straight. Carr held off a challenge by Courage to consolidate his lead. Scott Swain had the better of an early dual with Little. Swain then attempted to team ride Courage home but had to slow down when Courage made a mistake on the third lap bend three. Little took advantage to pass Swain and draw alongside Courage. Little just held things going into the last lap but Courage got ahead only for Little to sweep around the outside of the last bend to take second place. The home supporters applauded Carr and Little all the way round to the pits.
(1-5) (48-24)
Heat 13: Anders Henriksson, Ben Howe, Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr [61.0]
The unbeaten home pair made no mistake and took a 5-1 over Eriksson and Carr.
(5-1) (53-25)
Heat 14: Chris Neath, Jon Armstrong, Blair Scott, Kevin Little [61.5]
Kevin Little replaced Christian Henry as a tactical substitute while Blair Scott replaced Ross Brady. Kevin Little was penalized for tape touching and came in on the back start line. He was never able to get in touch and the home riders took another maximum.
(5-1) (58-26)
Heat 15: Ben Howe, Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Anders Henriksson [60.3]
Eriksson and Carr were first out of the gate but Howe swept around then on the first and second bends. Henriksson could make no impression and lost his maximum.
(3-3) (61-29)
|
Newport Wasps |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Anders Henriksson |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
12 |
|
Craig Taylor |
1 |
1 |
2* |
2* |
|
|
|
6+2 |
|
Scott Swain |
1 |
3 |
1* |
0 |
|
|
|
5+1 |
|
Chris Neath |
3 |
2* |
2 |
3 |
|
|
10+1 |
|
|
Ben Howe |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
3 |
|
|
14+1 |
|
Jon Armstrong |
3 |
2* |
X |
2* |
|
|
|
7+2 |
|
Chris Courage |
2* |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2 |
1 |
R |
2 |
1 |
|
|
8 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
0 |
1* |
1 |
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2* |
0 |
|
|
6+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Peter Carr |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1* |
|
11+1 |
|
Will Beveridge |
1 |
0 |
X |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Christian Henry |
0 |
X |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
The Monarchs heat leaders all provided resistance to a rampant home team but received little support from the bottom four. Peter Carr found the top two home riders difficult but was good value. Robert Eriksson was hampered by his heat 6 misfortune. Kevin Little deserves praise for getting stuck in on a track where he suffered a bad fall last year. Of the Monarchs' lower orders only Blair Scott in heat 11 managed to beat a home rider when Jon Armstrong fell at the back. .
Henriksson and Howe both looked unbeatable until the Swede missed the start in heat 15. Chris Neath only dropped one point to Peter Carr. Chris Courage scored a lot of points courtesy of Monarchs' reserves and Robert Eriksson retirement in heat 8. Craig Taylor and Jon Armstrong were able to dominate the visiting second strings and reserves.
Man of the match: Ben Howe
Next meeting: v Reading, Premier League, Smallmead on Monday 3rd July 2000
John Lowe