Edinburgh Monarchs 43: Newcastle Diamonds 47
Premier National Trophy
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 13th April 2001
Monarchs have won three of the last four matches in last heat deciders. It was inevitable that eventually they were going to lose one. It dully happened when Peter Carr was excluded after trying to force his way through on the inside on the third-fourth bend of the first lap. Jan Andersen gated in the re-run but hit problems off the fourth bend when Compton lost control and cut hard across Jan who had no option but to switch off allowing Pedersen through and the match was over.
The defeat is certainly no disgrace for Edinburgh as Newcastle, not for the first time, have built a team that is better equipped for Armadale than for Brough Park. Jan Andersen came back but looked far from fully fit. His points-total, while down on his usual standard was far in excess of what rider replacement would have yielded. James Grieves proved to be a poor replacement for Robert Eriksson and the lack of race wins put rather too much pressure on Peter Carr who was excluded twice after falling. It is fair to say that Monarchs had few of the breaks going but Newcastle did enough to win.
The bottom end of the team dug in and all contributed points but it was not quite enough on this occasion.
Newcastle were at full strength while Edinburgh used James Grieves as guest for the injured Robert Eriksson.
Gate position B was in used with Edinburgh off 2 and 4 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Bjarne Pedersen, James Grieves, Blair Scott [57.5]
James Grieves was first away but Pedersen edged ahead off the second bend. Juul came around on the outside and fell on the second bend and was excluded. Pedersen made the gate in the re-run but Scott appeared to be on the way to pass him on inside as Grieves was looking to pass on the outside. Pedersen managed to get between them and hit the third bend ahead and won with some ease.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Derek Sneddon, Christian Henry, Rob Grant, James Birkinshaw [59.4]
Derek Sneddon made a fast start and won heat 2 with Christian Henry backing him up for a maximum.
(5-1) (8-4)
Heat 3: André Compton, Ben Shields, Jan Andersen, Kevin Little [59.1]
Compton was well away with Ben Shields in hot pursuit. Kevin Little appeared to have forced his way past Jan Andersen but the Dane came back. Little then looked very uncomfortable and was sliding around the track. Shields pressured Compton for a couple of laps before settling for second place.
(3-3) (11-7)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Jesper Olsen, Derek Sneddon, James Birkinshaw [57.9]
Peter Carr was pressed by Olsen initially but won with some ease. Sneddon passed Birkinshaw on the back straight of the first lap and took third.
(4-2) (15-9)
Heat 5: Bjarne Pedersen, Jan Andersen, Ben Shields, Richard Juul [58.4]
Bjarne Pedersen made another start to outgate Andersen and Shields. Juul fell at the back and restarted.
(3-3) (18-12)
Heat 6: Jesper Olsen, Blair Scott, James Grieves, Robert Grant [59.0]
Jesper Olsen proved too quick for the home pairing with Blair Scott taking up the chase.
(3-3) (21-15)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Kevin Little, André Compton [59.7]
Little and Compton were away quickly but Carr headed them off with a great third bend turn to win. Christian Henry snapped at Compton's heels all the way and having a last attempt hit the fourth bend fence.
(3-3) (24-18)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Jesper Olsen, Richard Juul, Derek Sneddon [59.4]
Jesper Olsen came in as a tactical substitute for Birkinshaw. Blair Scott produced an outside pass of Olsen on the back straight of the first lap and held on to win. Richard Juul took third ahead of Sneddon to tie the heat.
(3-3) (27-21)
Heat 9: , Jesper Olsen, Jan Andersen, Ben Shields [59.6]
Jesper Olsen redeemed himself for his heat 8 failure by producing a great win from the back. Andersen and Shields gated but Olsen having been held off for a lap or two cut through to pass both Monarchs. Rob Grant retired early on.
(3-3) (30-24)
Heat 10: André Compton, Kevin Little, James Grieves, Blair Scott [58.1]
Compton gated from Scott with Grieves at the back. Kevin Little picked off Scott after Compton blocked him effectively. This brought Newcastle within striking distance.
(1-5) (31-29)
Heat 11: Bjarne Pedersen, Christian Henry, Richard Juul [59.5]
Pedersen gated but appeared set to be passed by both Peter Carr on the inside and Christian Henry on the outside on the first bend of the second lap. Pedersen checked and Carr came down with Juul laying down smartly. Carr was excluded. Henry pushed hard in the re-run and appeared to have passed Pedersen on a couple of occasions but settled for second.
(2-4) (33-33)
Heat 12: André Compton, Christian Henry, Ben Shields, James Birkinshaw [58.6]
Edinburgh replaced Derek Sneddon with Christian Henry and Newcastle retaliated by bringing in Birkinshaw to complete his third ride. Compton won despite a spirited try by Henry with Shields holding third place.
(3-3) (36-36)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, Bjarne Pedersen, Jesper Olsen, James Grieves [58.6]
Peter Carr came from the back to win this heat after cutting inside both Newcastle riders on the back straight. James Grieves was at the back but did try hard to pass Olsen.
(3-3) (39-39)
Heat 14: Kevin Little, Jan Andersen, Christian Henry, Rob Grant [59.5]
Rob Grant replaced James Birkinshaw as a reserve change. Jan Andersen gated but was unable to prevent Little passing to win with Henry third.
(3-3) (42-42)
Heat 15: Bjarne Pedersen, André Compton, Jan Andersen [59.5]
Newcastle won the toss for gate position and Pedersen and Compton took full advantage. Carr drove hard on the inside line and went to pass both on the exit from the third bend. The gap probably wasn't there and all three came down. Carr again lost out on the call and was excluded. Jan Andersen made the gate in the re-run and can feel aggrieved after Compton cut him up on the fourth bend forcing him to shut off and slip to last.
(1-5) (43-47)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
2 |
1* |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
1* |
2 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
|
6+1 |
|
Ben Shields |
2 |
1* |
1* |
1* |
|
|
|
5+3 |
|
Jan Andersen |
1* |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
8+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
X |
3 |
X |
|
|
9 |
|
Christian Henry |
2* |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
7+2 |
|
Derek Sneddon |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newcastle Diamonds |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Bjarne Pedersen |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
14 |
|
Richard Juul |
X |
0 |
1* |
1 |
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
André Compton |
3 |
1* |
3 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
12+2 |
|
Kevin Little |
0 |
2 |
2* |
3 |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
Jesper Olsen |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1* |
|
|
11+1 |
|
Rob Grant |
1 |
0 |
R |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
James Birkinshaw |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Monarchs struggled to win heats against the powerful visiting heat leader trio. In the early stages Newcastle looked a three-man team with their second strings and reserves off the pace. Kevin Little came good in the second half of meeting and turned the match around. The two exclusions for Peter Carr proved crucial for the outcome. Carr was not gating well and found his formal inside line not working as well as normal. This may have prompted him to take some risks.
Robert Eriksson's absence was the other key point in Monarchs' defeat with James Grieves never looking like coming near any of the Diamonds' top four until his brave chase of Olsen in heat 13. Jan Andersen was not as sharp and also failed to win a heat. This may due to lack of match fitness.
Ben Shields showed much improved form on what was probably the first dry track he has encountered this season. He looked sharp from the gate and rode well. He was passed by Jesper Olsen and failed to beat any of the visiting heat leaders but I doubt if many expected him to beat Pedersen, Olsen and Compton. Blair Scott continues to look good particularly in his heat 8 win over Jesper Olsen. Both Edinburgh reserves looked sharp with Christian Henry looking particularly impressive.
The visiting heat leaders were all in top form and only Carr looked like challenging them apart from Blair Scott in heat 8. Richard Juul is a pale shadow of the rider who was so effective at Armadale two or three years back. Kevin Little started badly but improved through the meeting. Both Newcastle reserves were totally ineffective.
Man of the match: Bjarne Pedersen
Most exciting rider: Christian Henry
John Lowe