Edinburgh Monarchs 48: Workington Comets 39
Premier National Trophy
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 16th June 2000
Edinburgh won a hard fought battle at Armadale in which neither team really hit top form. While the track looked to be in perfect condition, many of the riders found it difficult with nine falls and numerous exclusions.
The lead in the match swung from one side to another with Peter Carr having a nightmare start with only one win in his first three rides and that was in a heat when he was the only finisher. Carr delivered in heat 13 when he teamed up with Eriksson to stop Carl Stonehewer's eight ride unbeaten run at Armadale. Ross Brady and Blair Scott then secured the win in heat 14.
The final margin of nine points could see Edinburgh struggling to take the bonus point after next week's return fixture, but it a welcome morale booster.
Edinburgh were at full strength but Workington used Lee Hearne at number 7 in place of Barry Campbell who is out for the season.
The weather was bright and sunny. There was another big crowd with a massive Workington travelling support.
Monarch's Captain Peter Carr lost yet another toss. Gate position B operated after Workington went for 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Carl Stonehewer, Robert Eriksson, Lee Smethills, Blair Scott [57.3]
Carl Stonehewer made the gate from trap one with Eriksson struggling to get on terms. An excellent ride by Lee Smethills saw the youngster outgate Beveridge and hold on.
(2-4) (2-4)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, Christian Henry, Lee Hearne [60.3]
Blair Scott stormed ahead was joined by Christian Henry coming out of the second bend. Geoff Powell fell on the second bend, restarted and then retired. Lee Hearne was going well and Henry was never able to pull away until Hearne fell and restarted.
(5-1) (7-5)
Heat 3: Brent Werner, Peter Karlsson, Kevin Little, Ross Brady [59.2]
Karlsson and Werner gated and despite the best efforts of Ross Brady on the outside line and Kevin Little on the inside so it remained.
(1-5) (8-10)
Heat 4: Peter Carr [72.4]
Mick Powell was first away ahead of Peter Carr. Christian Henry fell at the second bend and restarted. Mick Powell had been passed by Peter Carr when he fell on the fourth bend. Mick Powell was excluded from the rerun as was Lee Hearne who was adjudged to be not under power. The rerun went ahead with two Edinburgh riders but ominously, Henry's bike was spluttering on the first lap and he packed up going into the third lap. He tried to push round but Peter Carr was coming around. Carr slowed right down to try and avoid lapping his teammate before giving up the idea and speeding up to finish.
(3-0) (11-10)
Heat 5: Carl Stonehewer, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Lee Smethills [57.8]
Brady and Little seemed to be first away but Stonehewer went smoothly around the outside on the second bend despite efforts by Brady to push him wide.
(3-3) (14-13)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Mick Powell, Will Beveridge [58.1]
Robert Eriksson made the start ahead of Mick Powell. Geoff Powell had a good line on the second bend and passed Beveridge. The Monarchs second string came back on the third bend and looked to be passing on the inside when Geoff lost control and slewed across Beveridge's path. Will laid down and the race was stopped. Mick Powell made the gate in the rerun but Eriksson swept past on the second bend.
(4-2) (18-15)
Heat 7: Peter Karlsson, Brent Werner, Blair Scott, Peter Carr [59.7]
Karlsson and Werner made the start. Peter Carr tried a second bend cutback but fell and restarted. Blair Scott took up the chase and passed Werner but later also fell and restarted ahead of Carr for a point.
(1-5) (19-20)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Will Beveridge, Lee Hearne [Awarded]
Edinburgh brought in Blair Scott for Christian Henry as a reserve change. Beveridge and Scott gated and led all the way. Lee Hearne fell on the second bend and restarted. Lee Smethills chased all the way before he fell causing the race to be stopped and awarded.
(5-1) (24-21)
Heat 9: Kevin Little, Mick Powell, Ross Brady, Geoff Powell [58.4]
Kevin Little rounded Mick Powell on the second band and held on to win. Ross Brady lifted alarmingly on the back straight of the first bend but Geoff Powell somehow avoided him to move into third place. Ross tried to get back but as he moved, Geoff moved across nearly causing a crash. Brady went past on the fourth bend.
(4-2) (28-23)
Heat 10: Robert Eriksson, Brent Werner, Peter Karlsson, Will Beveridge [58.3]
Werner and Karlsson were first away again but Eriksson again used the outside line on the second bend to move ahead. Beveridge tried hard but found the strong Comets pairing too good to pass.
(3-3) (31-26)
Heat 11: Carl Stonehewer, Lee Smethills, Peter Carr, Blair Scott [58.3]
Peter Carr made a dreadful start and was third. Carl Stonehewer led from Blair Scott with Smethills third. Carr couldn't seem to find any speed. Blair Scott kept to the outside line as Smethills passed on the inside. Carr took over from Scott but couldn't make any progress.
(1-5) (32-31)
Heat 12: Peter Karlsson, Kevin Little, Christian Henry [58.6]
Peter Karlsson made the start to beat Little but Christian Henry took a sold third place with Geoff Powell falling when last and retiring.
(3-3) (35-34)
Heat 13: Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Carl Stonehewer, Brent Werner [57.4]
The crunch was coming with the toiling Carr facing the seemingly invincible Stonehewer. From the tapes, Carl was certainly first away but Carr cut inside him on the second bend while Eriksson was sweeping around the outside. Carr and Eriksson then team rode to put Edinburgh five points ahead.
(5-1) (40-35)
Heat 14: Ross Brady, Brent Werner, Blair Scott, Lee Hearne [59.8]
Ross Brady managed to get round Brent Werner on the second bend and held on to win. Blair Scott took third place to secure the win.
(4-2) (44-37)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Carl Stonehewer, Robert Eriksson, Peter Karlsson [57.9]
Peter Carr exploded out of gate 2 to lead. Eriksson was at the back but pulled off a stunning outside pass of Karlsson on the back straight of the second bend to stretch Edinburgh's lead.
(4-2) (48-39)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
12 |
|
Will Beveridge |
0 |
1 |
2* |
0 |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
1 |
1* |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
|||
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2* |
3 |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
8 |
|
Christian Henry |
2* |
R |
1* |
|
|
|
|
3+2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Workington Comets |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Carl Stonehewer |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
12 |
|
Lee Smethills |
1 |
0 |
X |
2* |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
Peter Karlsson |
2* |
3 |
1* |
3 |
0 |
|
|
9+2 |
|
Brent Werner |
3 |
2* |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
9+1 |
|
Mick Powell |
X |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Geoff Powell |
R |
X |
O |
R |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Lee Hearne |
1 |
X |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
Blair Scott was the pick of the bottom end with two wins and an eight-point score. Will Beveridge again found the number two slot hard work especially against the powerful Comets top-four but he shows signs of getting there. Christian Henry did nothing wrong apart from his heat 4 engine failure.
Stonehewer started off where he left off last time with three straight wins. Carr and Eriksson dented this record in heats 13 and 15. Peter Karlsson and Brent Werner formed a formidable middle pairing. From Monarchs' point of view, it was as well that Mick Powell had an off day.
Geoff Powell toiled throughout seemingly unable to get around the track. Lee Hearne was never off the pace but picked up only gifted points. Lee Smethills was very impressive and was probably worth more than his points tally. He managed a win over Peter Carr and Blair Scott!
Man of the match: Peter Carr who came good when it mattered!
Most exciting rider: Robert Eriksson
Next home meeting: v Berwick, Premier League, Shielfield Park on Saturday 17th June 2000
John Lowe