Sheffield Tigers 52: Edinburgh Monarchs 39
Premier National Trophy
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Thursday 19th April 2001
Edinburgh produced one of their better Owlerton performances to keep the aggregate match point within their grasp as they went down to Sheffield by 13 points.
Sheffield forged ahead with four successive 4-2 heat advantages. From then on it was a case of damage limitation for Monarchs. This was accomplished reasonably well with the use of tactical substitutions and even a 'golden double'.
Monarchs only won four heats and secured only two heat advantages, in heat eight and fourteen, but picked up ten second places.
Monarchs were 14 points down after heat seven but managed to hold the line over the last eight heats and even trim the lead by one.
This result will make the battle for the aggregate match point very interesting in the return at Armadale.
Sheffield were at full strength with Robbie Kessler riding despite the injury picked up at Newcastle on Monday. Edinburgh again had André Compton guesting for Robert Eriksson.
Peter Carr won the toss and opted for gate position B.
Heat 1: Scott Smith, André Compton, Robbie Kessler [64.9]
Scott Smith showed some glimpses of his old Owlerton form with a win over Compton after gating. Blair Scott blew up his engine in its first race fresh from a major overhaul when last.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Lee Hodgson, Christian Henry, Andrew Moore, Derek Sneddon [67.7]
Derek Sneddon made a lighting fast gate but Hodgson cut under him going into the third bend. Derek wasn't going that fast and first Christian Henry and then Andrew Moore passed on the third lap. Christian Henry held off Moore.
(4-2) (8-4)
Heat 3: Simon Stead, Jan Andersen, Adam Allott, Ben Shields [65.7]
The two Sheffield riders were first away but Jan Andersen passed Allott on the back straight.
(4-2) (12-6)
Heat 4: Sean Wilson, Peter Carr, Andrew Moore, Derek Sneddon [65.5]
Sean Wilson cut across from gate four to head Peter Carr at the first bend. Wilson rode a tight line to block Carr's inside bursts.
(4-2) (16-8)
Heat 5: Simon Stead, André Compton, Blair Scott, Adam Allott [66.2]
Simon Stead was nearly caught on the line after André Compton tried a surge from high on the last bend. Blair Scott took third to break the run of home heat advantages.
(3-3) (19-11)
Heat 6: Robbie Kessler, Scott Smith, Peter Carr, Christian Henry [65.6]
Scott Smith made the start and pins Peter Carr to the white line to allow Robbie Kessler to go around the outside. The Sheffield pair held on for a first maximum of the meeting.
(5-1) (24-12)
Heat 7: Sean Wilson, Jan Andersen, Lee Hodgson, Ben Shields [65.7]
Andersen led Hodgson and Wilson into the back straight. Wilson made an outside passing manoeuvre around the third bend despite being pushed wide by Lee Hodgson to win the heat.
(4-2) (28-14)
Heat 8: Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Andrew Moore, Scott Smith [64.2]
Peter Carr made a tactical substitute appearance in place of Derek Sneddon. It was not surprising to see Carr win the heat but Blair Scott taking second place was a major boost for Edinburgh. Peter's time was the fastest of the night so far.
(1-5) (29-19)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Simon Stead, Adam Allott, Christian Henry [64.1]
Peter Carr left everyone for dead from the gate and was well ahead throughout the race to beat his winning time in heat eight.
(3-3) (32-22)
Heat 10: Scott Smith, Robbie Kessler, Jan Andersen, Ben Shields [66.0]
Scott Smith gated ahead of Andersen and Kessler came around the outside to join him for a maximum.
(5-1) (37-23)
Heat 11: Sean Wilson, André Compton, Blair Scott, Lee Hodgson [65.0]
André Compton and Blair Scott were first away as Wilson passed Scott and then went inside Compton on the third bend. Compton cut back on the fourth bend to retake the lead. Wilson passed once more on the second lap but was unable to shake off Compton who pressed through the heat.
(3-3) (40-26)
Heat 12: Simon Stead, Jan Andersen, Andrew Moore, Derek Sneddon [65.0]
Jan Andersen came in as a tactical substitute for Christian Henry while Derek Sneddon replaced Ben Shields to clear his first ride and pave the way for tactical changes in heat 14. Andersen gated but Stead passed on the third bend. Andrew Moore also closed in on Andersen but was unable to catch him.
(4-2) (44-28)
Heat 13: Sean Wilson, André Compton, Peter Carr, Robbie Kessler [64.6]
Peter Carr was penalized for tape touching after they were held for a long time. Carr came back on a 15-metre handicap. With Wilson leading Compton, Carr set off after Kessler and had nearly caught him by the end of the first lap. Carr and Kessler were side by side for a couple of laps before Carr edged ahead on the last lap.
(3-3) (47-31)
Heat 14: Jan Andersen, Adam Allott, André Compton, Lee Hodgson [65.9]
André Compton came in as a tactical substitute to replace Sneddon as Monarchs played their first 'joker' of the season. Jan Andersen gated while Compton passed Hodgson at the end of the first lap. He was unable to pass Allott to secure the maximum advantage from the golden double.
(2-5) (49-36)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Simon Stead, Sean Wilson, André Compton [63.8]
Peter Carr gated and was unlikely to be challenged. Stead held off a challenge from Compton before passing Wilson without making much impression on Carr who produced the fastest time of the meeting.
(3-3) (52-39)
|
Sheffield Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robbie Kessler |
1 |
3 |
2* |
0 |
|
|
|
6+1 |
|
Scott Smith |
3 |
2* |
0 |
3 |
8+1 |
|||
|
Simon Stead |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
13 |
|
Adam Allott |
1 |
0 |
1* |
2 |
|
4+1 |
||
|
Sean Wilson |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1* |
|
|
13+1 |
|
Lee Hodgson |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
Andrew Moore |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
André Compton |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2' |
0 |
|
10' |
|
Blair Scott |
E |
1* |
2* |
1* |
|
|
|
4+3 |
|
Ben Shields |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Jan Andersen |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
10 |
|
|
Peter Carr |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1* |
3 |
|
13+1 |
|
Christian Henry |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
Derek Sneddon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|||
Edinburgh were dependent as ever on Peter Carr. He provided three on Monarchs' four heat wins with Jan Andersen contributing the other. André Compton surprisingly failed to win a heat despite being competitive throughout. Only Blair Scott was able to provide support to the top three.
Peter Carr produced three fastest times of the night and can beat anyone at Owlerton given a start. He denied Sean Wilson a maximum in heat 15. Jan Andersen is still not 100% fit and a ten point score demonstrates his worth to Monarchs. Blair Scott suffered a disaster in heat one when his newly refurbished engine blew-up in its first race. He did well after that using his small track engine scoring in three rides including a paid win in heat eight.
Christian Henry did well to beat Andrew Moore in heat two but failed to score thereafter. Derek Sneddon and Ben Shields also failed to score.
Robbie Kessler had a below par match following his injury at Newcastle. This was compensated by some good scoring from Scott Smith. Sean Wilson and Simon Stead were only beaten by Peter Carr. Sheffield's bottom three all managed to score some points at the expense of their counterparts.
John Lowe (thanks to Mike Kokins and Mike Hunter)