Edinburgh Monarchs 55: Newport Wasps 35
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 4th August 2000
Edinburgh produced another great performance to see off the challenge of Newport who were fresh from a surprise win at Glasgow the day before. With Newport holding a 32-point lead from the home leg, it was probably never on for Monarchs to take the bonus point. However, mindful of some dramatic collapses by Newport in the latter stages of matches last year, it did look an outside possibility at one stage but Newport steadied things with four tactical substitutions.
Edinburgh were at full strength. Newport had André Compton guesting for Anders Henriksson and used rider replacement for Andrew Appleton. New signing Nathan Murray replaced the injured Jon Armstrong.
The track was in perfect condition despite the heavy rain in the area earlier in the week.
Monarchs Captain Peter Carr lost the toss and gate position B operated with Newport off gates 1 and 3 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, André Compton, Craig Taylor, Blair Scott [57.3]
Eriksson outpaced Compton from gate two and was never in trouble. Blair Scott, coming from gate 4, was last out of the second bend and had no success despite chasing Craig Taylor for the whole race.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Will Beveridge, Christian Henry, Chris Courage, Nathan Murray [60.1]
Beveridge flew from the gate and Christian Henry saw off a challenge from Nathan Murray before tucking in behind. Murray hit problems on the fourth bend and fell bringing down Chris Courage. Both riders restarted and the race continued with Beveridge and Henry winning by a huge margin.
(5-1) (8-4)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Chris Neath, Craig Taylor [57.9]
Craig Taylor came in as rider replacement. Peter Carr and Ross Brady shot out of the gate and took a second successive maximum.
(5-1) (13-5)
Heat 4: Ben Howe, Kevin Little, Nathan Murray, Christian Henry [58.6]
For once the visitors made the start and Ben Howe held of a determined challenge from Kevin Little. Murray kept Henry at the back to reduce the Edinburgh lead.
(2-4) (15-9)
Heat 5: Peter Carr, André Compton, Ross Brady, Craig Taylor [57.1]
Compton gated but Carr soon got on terms and passed on the fourth bend. Ross Brady also gave chase but couldn't make an impression.
(4-2) (19-11)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Ben Howe, Blair Scott, Chris Courage [58.9]
Eriksson gated for a big win but Howe was chased all the way by Blair Scott.
(4-2) (23-13)
Heat 7: André Compton, Chris Neath, Will Beveridge [Awarded]
Compton came in as a tactical substitute for rider replacement and made the gate. Kevin Little edged out Chris Neath and seemed set for second place when he fell on the fourth bend with the race awarded.
(1-5) (24-18)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Chris Neath, Christian Henry [59.9]
Chris Neath became the second Newport tactical substitute when he replaced Craig Taylor. Blair Scott made a cracking start and seemed to have the race under control. Christian Henry had passed Nathan Murray when the New Zealander fell and caused the race to be stopped. Blair Scott again made the start and held off Neath for yet another heat 8 win.
(4-2) (28-20)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Ben Howe, Chris Courage [58.3]
With Newport in sight of their 30-point target, Monarchs stepped up the pace with another 5-1 from Carr and Brady ahead of Howe and Courage.
(5-1) (33-21)
Heat 10: Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott, Ben Howe, Chris Neath [58.9]
Newport brought Ben Howe as rider replacement to join Chris Neath in a strong partnership. Robert Eriksson and Blair Scott were not impressed and took another maximum.
(5-1) (38-22)
Heat 11: André Compton, Kevin Little, Will Beveridge [58.4]
Kevin Little lifted at the start as Compton swept ahead. Little came back but the race was stopped as Taylor fell at the second bend causing the race to be stopped. Little made a better start second time around but had no answer to Compton.
(3-3) (41-25)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Ben Howe, Chris Neath, Christian Henry [58.1]
Chris Neath was used as rider replacement and Ben Howe came in as a tactical substitute. Peter Carr brushed them aside while Christian Henry was right on the pace and had a go to split them on the line.
(3-3) (44-28)
Heat 13: André Compton, Robert Eriksson, Ben Howe [58.8]
Eriksson and Little gated but Compton dived under Little forcing him into the fence. Little was not best pleased when he was excluded. Eriksson again gate in the rerun with Compton in close attendance. Eriksson seemed certain to take his fourth straight win when Compton caught him napping on the third band of the last lap and passed hi on the inside. Eriksson cut inside on the last bend and narrowly failed to come back on the line.
(2-4) (46-32)
Heat 14: Ross Brady, Chris Neath, Will Beveridge, Craig Taylor [60.1]
Craig Taylor came in for Murray as a tactical substitute but made no impression. Ross Brady gated from Chris Neath and Will Beveridge. Chris Neath tried to get past but Ross brushed off his challenge and won easily.
(4-2) (50-34)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, André Compton, Ben Howe [57.9]
Compton made the start but Carr and Eriksson gave him the one-two on the exit to bend two with Eriksson blasting past on the outside while Carr came through the inside.
(5-1) (55-35)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2* |
|
|
13+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
|
6+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Ross Brady |
2* |
1 |
2* |
3 |
|
|
|
8+2 |
|
Kevin Little |
2 |
X |
2 |
X |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Will Beveridge |
3 |
1 |
1* |
1 |
|
|
|
6+1 |
|
Christian Henry |
2* |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newport Wasps |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
André Compton |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
14 |
|
Craig Taylor |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Andrew Appleton |
Rider replacement |
|
(5+1) |
|||||
|
Chris Neath |
1 |
2* |
2 |
0 |
1* |
2 |
|
8+2 |
|
Ben Howe |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
|
Chris Courage |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Nathan Murray |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Peter Carr had another meeting where no one came near serious challenging him. Robert Eriksson was only troubled by André Compton. Kevin Little had a bit of a nightmare with two falls, one when bundled into the fence by André Compton.
Ross Brady had his best home meeting of the year and dropped only one point to the visitors, inevitable André Compton. Blair Scott also had a great meeting despite running last in the first heat.
Will Beveridge is now starting to string some results together and came up with his best Armadale score since joining Monarchs. Christian Henry had a lean time but was unlucky to encounter Newport's stronger riders as tactical substitutes or rider replacement.
Newport were effectively a three-man team and only André Compton was capable of mixing it with the top Monarchs. Compton was good value with some breathtaking overtakes but made few friends after dumping Kevin Little. Ben Howe was very disappointing, especially to those who remember his thrilling displays in the Powderhall era and was rather flattered by his ten-point scoreline. Chris Neath found the going somewhat tougher than at Glasgow where he scored 16 points. Rider replacement for Andrew Appleton produced 5 paid 6 points but that included two tactical substitutions.
The tail end of the Newport team only scored a point each.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: André Compton
Next home meeting: v Hull, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 11th August 2000
John Lowe