Edinburgh Monarchs 56: Arena Essex 34
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 22nd June 2001
Edinburgh were given a hard time in the early stages by the fast gating Arena Essex heat leaders before winning by a big margin. The final scoreline does little to reflect the efforts put in by the visiting riders in a number of keenly contested heats.
Arena Essex took the lead after Troy Pratt outgated Robert Eriksson and Shaun Tacey got the better of Christian Henry. Monarchs then won a succession of heat advantages punctuated by a single tied heat to lead 25-17 coming into heat eight.
Arena Essex then gambled on bringing Troy Pratt as a 'golden double'. Monarchs countered with Dalle Andersson coming in as a reserve change mounted on Peter Carr's bike. Andersson gated and was joined up front by Christian Henry who held his line and withstood some ferocious charges by Troy Pratt that ended when Troy fell on the last bend. This 5-1 effectively ended the challenge from the visitors.
From then it was only a matter of how big the winning margin was going to be. The only respite was provided in heat 14 when a double tactical substitution produced a 5-1 for the visitors.
Arena Essex were at full strength but Jan Andersen was a late call-off for Monarchs and David Walsh replaced him as a guest.
Peter Carr lost the toss and gate position B was in used with Edinburgh off 2 and 4 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Troy Pratt, Robert Eriksson, Shaun Tacey, Christian Henry [58.3]
Robert Eriksson was outgated by Troy Pratt and struggled to get on terms. For a couple of laps Eriksson was hard pressed to hold off some thrusts on the inside line from Shaun Tacey. Eriksson was suffering from a slipping clutch and burned out his clutch plates during the heat.
(2-4) (2-4)
Heat 2: Dalle Andersson, Luke Clifton, Ben Shields [58.6]
This heat had to be re-run after Andy Galvin fell. Dalle Andersson won the re-run although Like Clifton had a good ride with Ban Shields unable to get past.
(4-2) (6-6)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, Colin White, Blair Scott, Lee Dicken [58.1]
Blair Scott made a start and as soon joined up front by Peter Carr. Colin White Colin White came back impressively to pass Scott. From then on there was an enthralling three-way battle behind Carr with Blair trying to pass White and hold off Lee Dicken.
(4-2) (10-8)
Heat 4: David Walsh, Leigh Lanham, Ben Shields [58.8]
This had to be re-run with all four back after Clifton and Shields clashed on the first band. David Walsh made a great start to lead Lanham. Ben Shields missed the start but swept past Clifton and pushed Lanham hard in the closing stages. Clifton fell on the second bend of the last lap but restarted before retiring.
(4-2) (14-10)
Heat 5: Peter Carr, Troy Pratt, Shaun Tacey, Blair Scott [57.8]
Peter Carr made a decent start but Troy Pratt made a brilliant outside sweep to pass Carr on the back straight. Carr came through to win but Blair Scott remained at the back.
(3-3) (17-13)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Leigh Lanham, Christian Henry, Andy Galvin [58.7]
Eriksson beat Lanham from the gate. Christian Henry had no problems in passing the wobbly Galvin to take third place.
(4-2) (21-15)
Heat 7: David Walsh, Colin White, Dalle Andersen [59.5]
Colin White appeared to have got the better of David Walsh while Lee Dicken clashed a couple of times with Dalle Andersson the second causing the Swede to lose his primary chain. Dalle came out for the re-run on Blair Scott's bike and made no impression on Colin White was David Walsh racked up his second win.
(4-2) (25-17)
Heat 8: Dalle Andersson, Christian Henry, Shaun Tacey [59.4]
Troy Pratt came in as a 'golden double' for Clifton. Dalle Andersson came in for Shields to counter this riding Peter Carr's bike. Andersson gated and Henry rounded Tacey on the second bend to join Dalle up front. Pratt soon made up the leeway and took over from Tacey. However Christian rode a good heat and repulsed several charges from Pratt. Troy finally overdid things on the last bend and fell.
(5-1) (30-18)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Leigh Lanham, Blair Scott, Andy Galvin [58.4]
Peter Carr missed the start but passed Leigh Lanham on the first lap.
(4-2) (34-20)
Heat 10: Robert Eriksson, Colin White, Christian Henry, Lee Dicken [59.1]
Eriksson won from the gate. Christian Henry missed the start but lost no time in rounding Lee Dicken before setting off after Colin White and narrowly failing to pass him on the line.
(4-2) (38-22)
Heat 11: David Walsh, Dalle Andersson, Troy Pratt, Shaun Tacey [58.7]
Troy Pratt missed the start for once and Walsh and Andersson had no problems collecting a 5-1. Pratt passed Tacy near the end of the race.
(5-1) (43-23)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Colin White, Ben Shields, Luke Clifton [58.8]
Luke Clifton replaced Galvin to clear his third ride. Carr won without problems but Shields had to come from behind to beat Clifton.
(4-2) (47-25)
Heat 13: David Walsh, Leigh Lanham, Robert Eriksson, Troy Pratt [58.9]
David Walsh and Robert Eriksson gated but Leigh Lanham passed Eriksson to take second place.
(4-2) (51-27)
Heat 14: Colin White. Leigh Lanham, Dalle Andersson, Blair Scott [59.1]
Arena Essex made a double tactical substitution to bring in Colin White and Leigh Lanham for Lee Dicken and Luke Clifton. White gated and Lanham passed Andersson to cut the margin.
(1-5) (52-32)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Leigh Lanham, David Walsh, Troy Pratt [58.1]
Arena Essex won the toss and took gates two and four. Walsh produced and Flying start and looked set to secure a 5-1 hen Carr came through but the race was stopped by referee McGregor. Walsh appeared to have anticipated the start although he didn't touch the tapes and was allowed in the re-run. This time Lanham had the better of Walsh behind Carr.
(4-2) (56-34)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
Christian Henry |
0 |
1 |
2* |
1 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
David Walsh |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
13 |
|
Dalle Andersson |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2* |
1 |
|
|
10+1 |
|
Ben Shields |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arena Essex Hammers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Troy Pratt |
3 |
2 |
F |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
6 |
|
Shaun Tacey |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Colin White |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
11 |
|
Lee Dicken |
0 |
X |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Leigh Lanham |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2* |
2 |
|
12+1 |
|
Andy Galvin |
X |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Luke Clifton |
2 |
R |
0 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
Peter Carr came up with yet another maximum. David Walsh proved to be a great choice of guest and was rather unlucky not to take a maximum. Robert Eriksson was struggling with a slipping clutch and missed out on heat fifteen. Dalle Andersson also had problems and had to borrow equipment from Blair Scott and Peter Carr but still managed double figures.
Christian Henry looked good and probably deserved more than his paid five score. Blair Scott had a lean time but did have some tough rides including a double tactical substitution in heat fourteen. Ben Shields will be disappointed after losing to Clifton in heat two but did well after that twice beating the Arena youngster. He missed out on heat eight for tactical reasons.
The visiting heat leaders all looked the part but received little support from their lower orders. Shaun Tacey never really got going although he did beat each of Edinburgh's second strings. Lee Dicken had a dreadful meeting. Andy Galvin was off the pace and very wobbly. Luke Clifton by contrast looked better than his two point score suggests.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Christian Henry
John Lowe