Edinburgh Monarchs 47: Sheffield Tigers 43
Premier National Trophy
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 19th May 2000
Edinburgh found Sheffield in determined form at Armadale and were taken to a last heat decider.
The match got off to a bad start when Sean Wilson took out Kevin Little. The former Monarchs Captain somehow avoided serious injury and rode on despite feeling bruised. His bike smashed over the fence and he had to use his second bike.
There was major controversy in heat 13 when Kessler went down and stayed down until the race was stopped and amazingly was allowed into the re-run. Sheffield took a 5-1 in the re-run to bring the visitors to within a couple of points of Monarchs. Edinburgh's lead of 10 points had earlier been cut back by use of tactical substitutes
Armadale escaped much of the heavy rain that hit central Scotland although the track was very heavy following an earlier downpour. The match started in sunshine and although the rain threatened, it held off until the riders were lining up for the last heat.
Sheffield were at full strength while Edinburgh continued with Jon Swales at number 6.
Peter Carr lost the toss and Sean Wilson went for gate position B with Sheffield off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Kevin Little, Robert Eriksson, Simon Cartwright [59.6]
Robert Eriksson was quickest away from gate 2 and cut across to the inside. Sean Wilson moved out try to repulse Kevin Little who was going well on the outside line. Little had the drop on Wilson going into the second bend but Sean straightened up and clearly took out Little. There was a spectacular pile up with more damage to the fence and Kevin's bike than anything else after it smashed its way over the fence. Wilson was excluded and Eriksson team rode the shaken Little home for a home maximum. Cartwright fell and restarted.
(5-1) (5-1)
Heat 2: Adam Allott, Christian Henry, Jamie Birkinshaw, Jon Swales [60.8]
Allot made a brilliant start from gate 4. Christian Henry briefly challenged Allott before he became preoccupied with keeping out Jamie Birkinshaw.
(2-4) (7-5)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, Paul Lee, Blair Scott, Simon Stead [59.6]
Peter Carr swept ahead and was never challenged. Blair Scott went too wide on the second bend and slipped to last. He came storming back to pass Stead and nearly got past Lee before settling for third place.
(4-2) (11-7)
Heat 4: Robbie Kessler, Ross Brady, Adam Allott, Christian Henry [61.1]
Kessler and Allott gated with Brady also going too wide on the second bend. Brady then spent the next two laps getting past Henry before mounting a challenge to Allott. He went for a last desperate surge to the line and won a tight decision.
(2-4) (13-11)
Heat 5: Peter Carr, Sean Wilson, Blair Scott, Simon Cartwright [58.4]
Wilson gated but Carr passed on his favourite inside line on the back straight. Blair Scott was third without getting too close to Wilson.
(4-2) (17-13)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Robbie Kessler, Kevin Little, Jamie Birkinshaw [59.2]
Kessler gated but Eriksson pulled off a stunning inside pass off the second bend. Kevin Little took third to extend the lead.
(4-2) (21-15)
Heat 7: Paul Lee, Simon Stead, Ross Brady, Jon Swales [60.9]
Brady was involved in an elbows duel on the second bend when he seemed to be hit and jolted sideways. He regained control and was in last place. He took some time to pass Swales and had a go at Stead on the line, just missing out in this case.
(1-5) (22-20)
Heat 8: Kevin Little, Adam Allott, Christian Henry [60.3]
Simon Cartwright hit the first bend fence and was excluded. Kevin Little had no problems winning but Allot made another good start and kept Christian Henry at the back.
(4-2) (26-22)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Robbie Kessler, Jamie Birkinshaw [59.4]
Kessler gated but was caught out on the back straight as Carr came around the outside and Scott his inside for a comfortable maximum.
(5-1) (31-23)
Heat 10: Robert Eriksson, Simon Stead, Kevin Little, Paul Lee [60.3]
Eriksson had another easy win but Little had to come from the back to take third place after passing Lee.
(4-2) (35-25)
Heat 11: Sean Wilson, Simon Stead, Ross Brady, Jon Swales [60.6]
Simon Stead came in as a tactical substitute for Cartwright. He backed up Wilson to a heat maximum.
(1-5) (36-30)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Simon Stead, Paul Lee, Christian Henry [60.2]
Paul Lee came in as a tactical substitute for Birkinshaw. Peter Carr won with ease while Christian Henry held off Paul Lee for a couple of laps before being passed. Henry fell on the last bend but restarted to finish.
(3-3) (39-33)
Heat 13: Robbie Kessler, Sean Wilson, Ross Brady [59.6]
Ross Brady made a start for once as Kessler fell on the first bend. To the anger of the crowd Kessler stayed down to stop the race. For some reason the referee put him back in again. Kessler and Wilson gated in the re-run. Eriksson slowed down and retired. Kessler made an inflammatory gesture to the crowd on the second bend.
(1-5) (40-38)
Heat 14: Paul Lee, Blair Scott, Christian Henry, Adam Allott [59.8]
Christian Henry came in for Jon Swales as a reserve change. Paul Lee gated and although Blair Scott had a go he had to settle for second place. Christian Henry beat Allott for third to maintain Monarchs' narrow lead.
(3-3) (43-41)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Sean Wilson, Robert Eriksson [61.1]
The two Sheffield riders made the gate but Carr swept past off the second bend. Robert Eriksson then cut under Kessler on the third bend. Kessler then quit as if in an attack of pique and received more jeers from the crowd. The positions were held.
(4-2) (47-43)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2* |
3 |
3 |
R |
1 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
1 |
2* |
2 |
|
|
6+1 |
|
|
Ross Brady |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Jon Swales |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Christian Henry |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1* |
4+1 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sheffield Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Sean Wilson |
X |
2 |
3 |
2* |
2 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Simon Cartwright |
0 |
0 |
X |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Simon Stead |
0 |
2* |
2 |
2* |
2 |
|
|
8+2 |
|
Paul Lee |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1* |
3 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Robbie Kessler |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
R |
|
|
9 |
|
Jamie Birkinshaw |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Adam Allott |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
6 |
Peter Carr had one of his easiest maximums. Robert Eriksson also looked unstoppable until he retired in heat 13 after missing the start. He passed Kessler in two heats. Ross Brady struggled in the wet heavy conditions. He couldn't get out of the gate and lost ground on the first and second bends. Only his last gasp pass of Adam Allott prevented Monarchs losing all four of Ross's heats by 5-1.
Kevin Little did well after his first heat crash and only dropped two points to the opposition.
Blair Scott was competitive throughout and produced a good pass on Kessler. Christian Henry struggled in the conditions but collected some critical points.Sean Wilson failed to hit his usual Armadale score and while he did manage to beat Eriksson in heat 15 he could get nowhere near Carr. Kessler was very fast out of the gate. He outgated Eriksson three times! He was vulnerable from the back and should display some more grace and less petulance. Stead and Lee showed much improved Armadale form following their Under-21 success. Allott was very sharp out of he gate and rode well.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Robert Eriksson
Next meeting: Hull, Premier National Trophy, Armadale on Friday 26th May 2000
John Lowe