Swindon Robins 54: Edinburgh Monarchs 36
Premier League
Abbey Stadium, Blunsden, Swindon
Thursday 3rd August 2000
Edinburgh ended their southern tour win a defeat at Swindon.
Despite a brilliant show by Peter Carr and support from Robert Eriksson and Will Beveridge, Monarchs were never in contention. Monarchs did win eight heats out of fifteen but failed t score with twelve rides. With only six points scored in total by four members of the team it was hardly surprising. However credit belongs to the home team who are excellent around their own track this season with a 100% home record in the Premier League.
While Monarchs did take an early lead in heat 1 and retained it after heat 2, four successive 5-1s effectively settled things. Damage limitation was the order of the day for the second half of the meeting. Edinburgh did, at. least, keep the scores close enough to have a decent crack at the bonus point when Swindon visit Armadale towards the end of this month.
Edinburgh were at full strength while Swindon had Paul Bentley guesting for the suspended Frank Smart.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Martin Dixon, Blair Scott [67.9]
Robert Eriksson produced his third heat one win of the tour after gating. Guest Paul Bentley ground to a halt, gifting an opening heat advantage to Monarchs.
(2-4) (2-4)
Heat 2: Will Beveridge, Ollie Allen, Mark Steel, Christian Henry [69.3]
Will Beveridge started with an impressive win over the highly rated Swindon reserves.
(3-3) (5-7)
Heat 3: Neil Collins, Claus Kristensen, Ross Brady, Peter Carr [67.6]
Collins and Kristensen pick up a big 5-1 with Peter Carr struggling to get grip after changing his tyre pressures.
(5-1) (10-8)
Heat 4: Paul Fry, Mark Steel, Kevin Little, Christian Henry [70.3]
Paul Fry was well ahead but dropped back to provide assistance to Mark Steel who was under pressure from Kevin Little.
(5-1) (15-9)
Heat 5: Claus Kristensen, Neil Collins, Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott [68.2]
Another 5-1 for Kristensen and Collins ahead of Eriksson and Scott.
(5-1) (20-10)
Heat 6: Martin Dixon, Paul Bentley, Kevin Little, Will Beveridge [69.1]
The home team build up a massive lead after Dixon and Bentley score yet another maximum. Will Beveridge fell but restarted to finish.
(5-1) (25-11)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Ollie Allen, Paul Fry [66.7]
Carr stopped the rot with a win in the fastest time of the meeting. Ross Brady fell and retired.
(3-3) (28-14)
Heat 8: Robert Eriksson, Mark Steel, Martin Dixon, Blair Scott [68.5]
Robert Eriksson came in for Christian Henry as a tactical substitute and won.
(3-3) (31-17)
Heat 9: Claus Kristensen, Kevin Little, Will Beveridge [68.8]
This heat was rerun and Neil Collins was excluded. Kristensen won to preserve the home lead.
(3-3) (34-20)
Heat 10: Peter Carr, Martin Dixon, Paul Bentley, Ross Brady [67.7]
Peter Carr won again but Ross Brady was clearly finding the going tougher than his previous visit and was last .
(3-3) (37-23)
Heat 11: Paul Fry, Robert Eriksson, Ollie Allen, Kevin Little [68.4]
Kevin Little replaced Blair Scott as a tactical substitute but came last. Robert Eriksson took second place after being passed by Paul Fry with his engine smoking ominously.
(4-2) (41-25)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Will Beveridge, Mark Steel [67.9]
A second heat advantage for Monarchs cut the margin to 14 after Carr beat Collins and Will Beveridge took a third place at the expense of Steel.
(2-4) (43-29)
Heat 13: Paul Fry, Paul Bentley, Robert Eriksson, Christian Henry [67.7]
Christian Henry replaced Kevin Little as a reserve change to clear his three rides. Robert Eriksson appeared on Peter Carr's bike but was not comfortable and the home team stretched their lead to 18 points with another maximum.
(5-1) (48-30)
Heat 14: Peter Carr, Claus Kristensen, Ollie Allen, Ross Brady [68.0]
Peter Carr replaced Christian Henry as a tactical substitute and scored another win. Ross Brady took another last place.
(3-3) (51-33)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Paul Fry, Neil Collins, Will Beveridge [67.8]
Robert Eriksson did not appear for the final heat and Beveridge joined Carr. Carr won his fifth straight heat win.
(3-3) (54-36)
|
Swindon Robins |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Paul Bentley |
R |
2* |
1* |
2* |
|
|
5+3 |
|
|
Martin Dixon |
2 |
3 |
1* |
2 |
8+1 |
|||
|
Neil ,Collins |
3 |
2* |
X |
2 |
1* |
|
8+2 |
|
|
Claus Kristensen |
2* |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
10+1 |
|
Paul Fry |
3 |
1* |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
12+1 |
|
Ollie Allen |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1* |
6+1 |
|
Mark Steel |
1* |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
10 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Peter Carr |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
Ross Brady |
1 |
F |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Kevin Little |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Will Beveridge |
3 |
0 |
1* |
1 |
0 |
|
|
5+1 |
|
Christian Henry |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
After a solid team performance on the Island two days earlier, Monarchs were effectively a three-man team as Kevin Little, Ross Brady, Blair Scott, and Christian Henry all failed to beat a home rider on the track. Given the excellent performances by Ross Brady and Kevin Little at Blunsden last year, this was rather disappointing.
Peter Carr was advised by Steve Johnston to change his tyre pressure and struggled for grip in heat 3. After sorting that out his gating and first bend riding proved too good for the home riders. Robert Eriksson went well until he hit engine problems in heat 11. He had to ride borrowed equipment in heat 13 and missed heat 15. Will Beveridge had a good meeting winning heat 2 and leading heat 9. This was rewarded with a heat 15 appearance.
Paul Fry was the pick of the home riders and like Kristensen only dropped points to Carr. The Swindon team scored solid points all down the line and this was the basis of their win.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Next meeting: v Newport, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 4th August 2000
John Lowe