Workington Comets 50: Edinburgh Monarchs 40
Premier League Cup
Derwent Park, Workington
Saturday 15th July 2000
Edinburgh went out of the Premier League Cup after losing at Derwent Park by 50 points to 40. Monarchs did go down fighting against a full strength Comets side. With Robert Eriksson suffering a mechanical nightmare a real hiding could have been on the cards. However, Edinburgh's much criticized middle pairing of Ross Brady and Kevin Little provided the resistance alongside Captain Peter Carr and Monarchs' reserves.
This performance demonstrated that had Edinburgh been able to take even a modest lead from then home leg then a win wold have been possible.
Edinburgh were at full strength as were the home team with Geoff Powell recovering from his back injury and fellow reserve Adrian Newman also back in the side.
The weather was sunny and dry and as ever the racing was fast and furious but generally won from the gate..
Carl Stonehewer won the toss after stand-in Kevin Little called incorrectly. Peter Carr was still in the pits at this point after blowing an engine when warming up. Stonehewer opted for gates 1 and 3 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Carl Stonehewer, Robert Eriksson, Lee Smethills, Blair Scott [66.0]
Stonehewer made the start to win in a very fast time within 0.2 seconds of his lap record. Eriksson struggled to keep up but had no problems holding second place. Blair Scott made a good start but Smethills was ahead by the second bend.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Will Beveridge, Christian Henry, Geoff Powell, Adrian Newman [67.9]
Beveridge blasted away at the start for an easy win. Christian Henry tucked in behind with Adrian Newman trying everything to pass. Newman tried a number of surges on the inside line of the back straight but Henry showing great composure used grip the outside line and cut Neman off on the third bend every time. On the third lap Newman and Henry hit. Newman came off worse and slipped to last while Henery recovered to hold off Geoff Powell.
(1-5) (5-7)
Heat 3: Peter Karlsson, Brent Werner, Kevin Little, Ross Brady [66.9]
Karlsson and Werner gated and won a processional heat with Little unable to pas and Brady stuck at the back.
(5-1) (10-8)
Heat 4: Mick Powell, Peter Carr, Christian Henry [66.6]
Peter Carr made a good start but Powell used his knowledge of the track to lead by the second bend. Christian Henry outgated Newman and again held off his fellow countryman. Newman fell on the fourth bend of the last lap.
(3-3) (13-11)
Heat 5: Brent Werner, Peter Karlsson, Blair Scott [66.1]
Werner gated ahead of Scott and Karlsson with Eriksson struggling at the back. Eriksson soon dropped out with engine troubles. Blair Scott held second place until he went wide at the second bend allowing Karlsson through.
(5-1) (18-12)
Heat 6: Lee Smethills, Carl Stonehewer, Peter Carr, Will Beveridge [68.2]
Lee Smethills shot out of the gate and when Stonehewer moved through to join him a home 5-1 became inevitable. Carl Stonehewer team rode Smethills all the way giving Peter Carr no chance to pass.
(5-1) (23-13)
Heat 7: Mick Powell, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Geoff Powell [67.1]
The home pair made the gate once more. Geoff Powell looked a bit wobbly but held off a few charges by Kevin Little. Ross Brady then took over and passed Powell on the outside. Kevin Little then put in a challenge and slipped inside Powell on the last bend to tie the heat.
(4-2) (26-16)
Heat 8: Peter Carr, Lee Smethills, Blair Scott [Awarded]
Peter Carr replaced Christian Henry as a tactical substitute. Carr made no mistake but Smethills and Newman filled the minor placings. Newman looked wobbly when pressured by Scott and lost it on the fourth bend of the third lap collecting Scott. The race was stopped and awarded with Newman excluded and takwn away in the ambulance for checks.
(2-4) (28-20)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Peter Karlsson, Brent Werner, Will Beveridge [66.0]
Peter Carr won a second successive heat when he outgate Karlsson and Werner. He equalled the fast time set by Stonehewer in heat 1.
(3-3) (31-23)
Heat 10:Carl Stonehewer, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Lee Smethills [66.8]
Carl Stonehewer led from Brady and Little with Smethills at the back. Kevin Little held off Smethills all the way until the Workington youngster fall and restarted on the last bend.
(3-3) (34-26)
Heat 11: Mick Powell, Robert Eriksson, Geoff Powell, Christian Henry [67.1]
Christian Henry replaced Blair Scott as a reserve change to complte his three rides. Mick Powell go a real 'flyer' leaving Eriksson well behind. Geoff Powell managed to stay ahead of the determined Christian Henry to record the first and only point earned by the Workington reserves over two legs of this tie.
(4-2) (38-28)
Heat 12: Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Peter Karlsson, Geoff Powell [67.5]
Ross Brady replaced Beveridge as a tactical substitute while Geoff Powell replaced his injured fellow reserve, Adrian Newman. Brady seemed to be recovering his Derwent Park form anfd gated with Kevin Little joining him. Peter Karlsson made no impression.
(1-5) (39-33)
Heat 13: Carl Stonehewer, Mick Powell, Peter Carr [67.0]
Erikkson made a fair start but was left for dead by Stonehewer and Powell. Peter Carr passed Eriksson to mount a challenge but could get no change out of the two unbeaten home riders. Robert Eriksson stopped early on with engine problems. This ensured Workington's passage into the semi-finals.
(5-1) (44-34)
Heat 14: Kevin Little, Ross Brady, Brent Werner, Geoff Powell [67.8]
Kevin Little replaced Christian Henry as a tactical substitute. This paid off once more as Little made a cracking start with Brady outgating Brent Werner. Werner tried to get back but Brady held his place despite a few lapses on the fourth bend.
(1-5) (45-39)
Heat 15: Carl Stonehewer, Brent Werner, Peter Carr [67.5]
Everything went wrong for Monarchs in this heat. First, Peter Carr taped. This involved the loss of gate position for Edinburgh with Crr moved from gate 1 to the 15 metre penalty mark on gate 4. Stonehewer led from Kevin Little with Carr gaining rapidly on Werner. The American tried to cut inside Little on the second bend but ended up taking out Kevin. Amazingly the referee excluded Little. On the rerun, Peter Carr made a crafty bid to move to the start line only to be sent back to the penalty mark. Carr caught Werner by the third bend and tried everything to pass. With Stonehewer there to offer assistance to Werner, Carr was unable to pass. He did get a warm applause from the home supporters for his efforts.
(5-1) (50-40)
|
Workington Comets |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Carl Stonehewer |
3 |
2* |
3 |
2** |
3 |
|
|
13+2 |
|
Lee Smethills |
1 |
3 |
2 |
F |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Peter Karlsson |
3 |
2* |
2 |
1 |
|
|
8+1 |
|
|
Brent Werner |
2* |
3 |
1* |
1 |
2* |
|
|
9+3 |
|
Mick Powell |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
Geoff Powell |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
|
|
Adrian Newman |
0 |
F |
X |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2 |
R |
2 |
R |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Kevin Little |
1 |
1* |
1* |
2* |
3 |
2* |
|
8+3 |
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
11 |
|
Will Beveridge |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
||
|
Christian Henry |
2* |
1* |
0 |
|
|
|
3+2 |
|
Peter Carr was again the outstanding rider for
Edinburgh despite not making too many starts. He also suffered from engine
problems before the meeting and also had to push back to the pits after heat
4. Robert Eriksson, who is normally a solid performer at Derwent Park, never
got going and seemed plagued by engine problems
Ross Brady and Kevin Little, the two 'fall guys' for the Armadale on Friday, returned to form after a poor heat 3. Ross looked more like thge rider who piled up big scores at Derwent Park last year. Kevin turned in his best away performance for some weeks.
Blair Scott had few chances to shine. Will Beveridge had a good win in heat 1 but failed to score in two tough heats after that. Christian Henry demostrated the progress he has madde dominating the home reserves apart from his last ride.
Carl Stonehewer and Mick Powell looked unbeatable. Peter Karlsson and Brent Werner also did provided they gated but neither displayed any ability to come from the back. Lee Smethills was again very impressive. Geoff Powell and Adian Newman fared little better than the two rookies who replaced them at Armadale.
Man of the match: Carl Stonehewer
Most exciting rider: Peter Carr
Next meeting: v Glasgow, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 28th July 2000
John Lowe