Edinburgh Monarchs 51: Newcastle Diamonds 39
Premier League Cup
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 18th May 2001
Edinburgh unveiled their new look line-up with a convincing win over a Newcastle side who looked decidedly off-colour. The winning margin of 12 points gives Monarchs a realistic chance of progress through to the second round in the second leg at Brough Park on Monday.
Monarchs got off to a flying start with on opening 4-2 followed by a couple of 5-1 heat advantages. Newcastle never really recovered and while they stemmed the flow with the use of three tactical substitutions they never really got into contention. Monarchs led by 12 points after six heats and although this margin was cut to 8 points by a heat 14 advantage for the visitors, Carr and Eriksson restored the 12 point lead with a characteristic last heat maximum.
Newcastle used James Grieves as guest for the absent Bjarne Pedersen on Danish Championship duty. Edinburgh tracked a full strength side with Dalle Andersson making his first appearance in the Blue and Gold.
Needless to say gate position B was in used with Edinburgh off 2 and 4 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, James Grieves, Blair Scott, Robert Grant [58.3]
Robert Eriksson made the gate from position two and was always in command after cutting across Grieves to the first bend. Blair Scott tried a move around the outside but was unable to get past Grieves and settled for third place.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Christian Henry, Derek Sneddon, James Birkinshaw, Richard Juul [59.7]
Christian Henry and Derek Sneddon shot out of the gate leaving the visitors well behind. Sneddon withstood a couple of surges from Juul before Birkinshaw took up the chase.
(5-1) (9-3)
Heat 3: Jan Andersen, Dalle Andersson, Kevin Little, André Compton [58.2]
Monarchs new signing certainly didn't 'dilly dally' and shot out of the gate and showed his class with a nice first bend that took him well clear of the visiting duo. Better still as Jan Andersen came around the outside to join Dalle up front. Monarch's Scandinavian duo never looked like relinquishing their lead. Dalle was trying some second bend turns that were straight out of the Peter Carr coaching manual.
(5-5) (14-4)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Jesper Olsen, James Birkinshaw [57.8]
This heat was re-run after Derek Sneddon was excluded for tape touching. Christian Henry came in and made a dreadful start leaving him way adrift of the field. Jesper Olsen was first away but Peter Carr passed impressively off the inside of bend four. Christian continued to chase James Birkinshaw but hit the boards on the last bend as he attempted to pass.
(3-3) (17-7)
Heat 5: James Grieves, Jan Andersen, Dalle Andersson, Rob Grant [59.1]
James Grieves got the drop on Jan Andersen with Dalle Andersson missing the start completely. Grieves held off Andersen to win. Andersson set off after Grant and seemed to have got past on the inside line along the back straight but appeared to be down on speed and Grant held on. Dalle didn't give up and finally forced his way past just before the finish line.
(3-3) (20-10)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Jesper Olsen, Blair Scott, Richard Juul [58.5]
Robert Eriksson produced another impressive ride to beat Jesper Olsen while Blair Scott easily headed the struggling Juul to increase the lead still further.
(4-2) (24-12)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Kevin Little, André Compton, Derek Sneddon [57.9]
Derek Sneddon came in for Christian Henry as a reserve change. Peter Carr had a very easy win over Little with Compton toiling in third holding off Sneddon.
(3-3) (27-15)
Heat 8: James Grieves, Blair Scott, Kevin Little, Christian Henry [58.8]
Newcastle went for a double tactical substitution as James Grieves replaced Grant and Kevin Little came in for Birkinshaw. Edinburgh brought in Christian Henry for Sneddon. The tactical substitution appeared to be paying off as Grieves and Little edged ahead at the second bend but Blair Scott had other ideas and forced his way past Little off the second bend to secure second place.
(2-4) (29-19)
Heat 9: Jesper Olsen, Jan Andersen, Richard Juul [58.6]
Jesper Olsen outgated Jan Andersen to secure an easy win. Dalle Andersson missed the start once more and had appeared to have passed Richard Juul on the inside of the home straight but spun on the second bend stalling his engine and retired.
(2-4) (31-23)
Heat 10: Robert Eriksson, Kevin Little, Blair Scott, André Compton [58.7]
Monarchs hit back as Eriksson and Scott gated ahead of Kevin Little. This time Little was able to pass Scott but Compton was surprising well adrift in last place and was unable to mount a serious challenge.
(4-2) (35-25)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Rob Grant, Derek Sneddon [57.9]
Derek Sneddon replaced Christian Henry as a reserve change. Peter Carr swept ahead of Grieves from the start for another easy win but Sneddon was unable to make any impression on Grant.
(3-3) (38-28)
Heat 12: Jesper Olsen, Christian Henry, André Compton [59.1]
Edinburgh replaced Derek Sneddon with Christian Henry as Newcastle played their last tactical card bringing in Jesper Olsen as a tactical substitute for Juul. Little and Compton were first away and cut off Jan Andersen at the second bend. Christian Henry produced a massive sweep around the outside and picked up grip on the back straight to take him into the lead. Kevin Little had another good ride and eventually managed to pass Henry to win. Jan Andersen tried hard to get past Compton and had a go on the inside of the back straight on the last lap only to pick up some extra drive and somersaulted spectacularly across the track. He lay there for some time before being returned to the pits in the ambulance. No serious damage was done and he was soon up and about.
(2-4) (40-32)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, Jesper Olsen, Robert Eriksson, James Grieves [57.7]
Peter Carr continued his dominant form with another easy win. Robert Eriksson missed the start and was stuck at the back for a while until he forced himself past Grieves.
(4-2) (44-34)
Heat 14: Kevin Little, Dalle Andersson, James Birkinshaw [58.7]
Little made the start from gate 1 but Andersson put in a challenge around the outside and seemed to have the edge going into the third bend. Little cut across Dalle on the fourth bend causing him to run wide. Christian Henry was also coming around and the outside and hit the fence trying to avoid Dalle. Christian eventually got going but the race had already been stopped. In the re-run with Henry excluded, Little and Andersson gave a repeat performance. Kevin just managed to edge ahead of Dalle of the fourth bend to win.
(2-4) (46-38)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, James Grieves, Jesper Olsen [58.1]
Edinburgh took gate position in the final heat. James Grieves made the start but Eriksson sailed past on the outside of the back straight. It was then only a matter of time before Peter Carr came through to join him at the front for a last heat maximum.
(5-1) (51-39)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
12+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Jan Andersen |
3 |
2 |
2 |
F |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Dalle Andersson |
2* |
1* |
R |
2 |
|
|
|
5+2 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Christian Henry |
3 |
F |
F |
2 |
X |
|
|
5 |
|
Derek Sneddon |
2* |
T |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newcastle Diamonds |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
11 |
|
Rob Grant |
0 |
0 |
1* |
|
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
André Compton |
0 |
1* |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
9 |
|
Jesper Olsen |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
12 |
|
Richard Juul |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
||
|
James Birkinshaw |
1 |
1* |
1 |
|
|
|
|
3+1 |
Peter Carr turned in yet another Armadale maximum without ever looking in any danger. Robert Eriksson showed a return to near his best form. Though he was denied a maximum by Jesper Olsen in heat 13, he will be pleased with his score and performance especially as he defeated James Grieves three times, two of them from the back! Jan Andersen had a slightly subdued match but scored steadily until his heat 12 crash.
Blair Scott had a steady match only losing to Grieves, Olsen and Little. The bright point was his second place in heat 8 against two tactical substitutes. Dalle Andersson had a great opening meeting. He looks a class rider although maybe some adjustments in his setup will be needed to suit Armadale. Like many Swedes if he gates he is liable to be very difficult to beat. He looked equally comfortable on the inside or the outside line and can certainly pass.
Christian Henry had a torrid meeting with a win, a good second and three falls. His gating continues to be very mixed. His first two falls were down to him trying a bit too hard to get back on terms after poor starts. His heat 14 exclusion was perhaps rather unlucky.
Jesper Olsen top scored for Newcastle without looking quite the rider who was so difficult to beat at Armadale in the late 1990s. Newcastle were also well served by guest James Grieves and Kevin Little. André Compton, normally a big scorer at Armadale was way off the pace. Richard Juul again looked dreadful for a rider with a seven-point plus Armadale average. Rob Grant made little impression but James Birkinshaw had a steady match.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Kevin Little
John Lowe