Trelawny Tigers 41: Edinburgh Monarchs 49
Premier League
Clay Country Moto Park, St. Austell
Sunday 17th June 2001
The proved to be a real 'match of two halves' as Monarchs struggled for the first eight heats before storming home. The key factor was break after heat nine to water the track. This produced a grippy outside line that Peter Carr and Dalle Andersson were to take advantage of after the whole team had struggled to get out of the gate earlier on. The break also allowed Peter Carr to switch to his Armadale engine. He had been using his big track engine because of concerns about a cracked piston in his Armadale engine. Not surprisingly he found it rather a handful on the tight circuit and only started to win races after he had made the switch.
Monarchs slipped six behind even though Trelawny had to go with one rider in heat 5 and Graeme Gordon blew an engine when well ahead in heat 4. Dalle Andersson led the fightback in heat 9. Monarchs levelled after 4-2 heat advantages in heats 9, 10 and 11. Peter Carr and Dalle Andersson produce the big one in heat 12 to put Monarchs four points up. A tied heat 13 suited Monarchs perfectly and left things clear for a match winning 5-1 by Blair Scott and Dalle Andersson in heat 14 over the home reserves.
Edinburgh were without Jan Andersen and had no option but to go with rider replacement after being unable to recruit a suitable guest. Trelawny were missing three riders due to the World Championship qualifiers. Rider replacement operated for Pavel Ondrasik. Troy Pratt replaced Steffen Mell while Shaun Tacey had been booked to replace Brett Woodifield. In the event, Tacey failed to show and Shane Colvin was drafted as a Conference League rider. He was only booked late on and failed to arrive until his third scheduled heat.
There was some controversy about switching the match to Tuesday but Trelawny accepted that they could run on Sunday perhaps thinking that the guests they had recruited would give them an advantage. When Shaun Tacey failed to show, this advantage was clearly reversed and the moaning commenced.
The weather was bright and breezy and the track very dry early on until it was watered.
Gate position B was in used with Edinburgh off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Troy Pratt, Graeme Gordon, Christian Henry [55.9]
Robert Eriksson won from the gate ahead of the home pairing.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Gary Phelps, Dalle Andersson, Simon Phillips, Ben Shields [55.1]
From the gate once more as Phelps displayed his expertise on the tight track.
(4-2) (7-5)
Heat 3: Chris Harris, Peter Carr, Gary Phelps, Blair Scott [56.6]
Shane Colvin had not yet arrived and was excluded under two minutes. Gary Phelps came in as a reserve replacement. Chris Harris and Phelps gated but Peter Carr produced an outside pass of the home reserve to take second as the lead was doubled.
(4-2) (11-7)
Heat 4: Ben Shields, Simon Phillips, Dalle Andersson [56.6]
Dalle Andersson came in for rider replacement while Graeme Gordon did likewise for Trelawny. Andersson failed to set the start light and was left standing when the tapes went up. Graeme Gordon was leading Ben Shields when his engine blew gifting the Australian his first race win for Monarchs.
(2-4) (13-11)
Heat 5: Chris Harris, Robert Eriksson, Christian Henry [54.7]
Shane Colvin had still failed to show and Trelawny were forced to go with one rider. Chris Harris gated to beat Eriksson in impressive style.
(3-3) (16-14)
Heat 6: Troy Pratt, Graeme Gordon, Dalle Andersson, Ben Shields [55.3]
Ben Shields came in as rider replacement. The Monarchs reserve pair were still not able to get out of the start and Troy Pratt and Graeme Gordon recorded a 5-1 to take Trelawny six points ahead.
(5-1) (21-15)
Heat 7: Chris Harris, Peter Carr, Blair Scott, Gary Phelps [55.6]
Chris Harris took a third straight heat win after coming in as rider replacement. Peter Carr was toiling using his big track engine. Blair Scott did well to take third and keep the margin at six.
(3-3) (24-18)
Heat 8: Robert Eriksson, Graeme Gordon, Mark Phillips, Ben Shields [56.0]
Robert Eriksson came in as a tactical substitute for Henry and won ahead of Graeme Gordon but Ben Shields beaten by Simon Phillips and the margin is undented.
(3-3) (27-21)
Heat 9: Dalle Andersson, Chris Harris, Robert Eriksson, Shane Colvin [56.0]
Shane Colvin had finally arrived and lined up with Chris Harris. Robert Eriksson came in, this time as rider replacement. Eriksson gated and was joined by Dalle Andersson who burst around the outside of Chris Harris. The Monarchs' pair held the advantage until Harris comes storming through to catch Eriksson.
(2-4) (29-25)
Heat 10: Peter Carr, Graeme Gordon, Blair Scott, Troy Pratt [55.5]
There was a delay while the track was watered which allowed Peter Carr to change to his Armadale engine. Peter revelled in the now grippy outside line for two laps to go ahead of the home riders. Blair Scott produced another good ride to keep Troy Pratt at the back.
(2-4) (31-29)
Heat 11: Robert Eriksson, Gary Phelps, Christian Henry, Shane Colvin [56.5]
Shane Colvin came in as rider replacement. Eriksson won without difficulty while Christian Henry recovered from a wobbly first lap to stay ahead of Colvin and press Phelps hard. This levelled the scores.
(2-4) (33-33)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Dalle Andersson, Simon Phillips, Chris Harris [55.8]
Peter Carr gated from Harris. Dalle Andersson produced another swoop to pass Harris for a big 5-1 to put Monarchs in control. Harris fell chasing but restarted.
(1-5) (34-38)
Heat 13: Troy Pratt, Robert Eriksson, Dalle Andersson, Gary Phelps [56.7]
Gary Phelps and Dalle Andersson both came in as rider replacement. Troy Pratt gated and won ahead of the Edinburgh pairing to inch Monarchs nearer their target.
(3-3) (37-41)
Heat 14: Blair Scott, Dalle Andersson, Gary Phelps, Simon Phillips [56.9]
The four-point margin was perfect for Monarchs as Trelawny were unable to make any tactical changes apart from bringing in Simon Phillips for Shane Colvin. Monarchs put in Dalle Andersson for Ben Shields. The Tigers' task become even more daunting when Phillips having just beaten the two minutes light went into the tapes. With no reserve available to come in, Phelps had to go off the 15-metre handicap line. Blair Scott gated while Dalle Andersson cut back to go inside Phillips and team-rode with Blair Scott to clinch the match.
(1-5) (38-46)
Heat 15: Chris Harris, Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Troy Pratt [55.6]
Eriksson and Carr going off the outside gates seemed to have the advantage put got a bit tangled up allowing Harris to take advantage
(3-3) (41-49)
|
Trelawny Tigers |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Troy Pratt |
2 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
8 |
|
Graeme Gordon |
1* |
E |
2* |
2 |
2 |
|
|
7+2 |
|
Chris Harris |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
|
14 |
|
Shane Colvin |
N |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Pavel Ondrasik |
Rider replacement |
|
|
(3) |
||||
|
Gary Phelps |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
7 |
|
Simon Phillips |
1 |
2 |
1* |
1 |
0 |
|
|
5+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
16 |
|
Christian Henry |
0 |
1* |
1 |
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
|
Peter Carr |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1* |
|
11+1 |
|
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
1* |
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
5+1 |
|
Jan Andersen |
Rider replacement |
|
|
(3) |
||||
|
Dalle Andersson |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2* |
1* |
2* |
12+3 |
|
Ben Shields |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
3 |
Robert Eriksson produced his biggest score of the season only dropping points to Harris apart from the heat 13 defeat by Pratt that was 'convenient' for Monarchs. Peter Carr only got going after his engine change and the track watering but dominated from then until the match was won. Rider replacement for Jan Andersen only yielded three points.
Christian Henry may have unfortunate memories of the St. Austell track after his crash when riding in the Conference last season but did collect some points albeit at the expense of Shane Colvin. Blair Scott had a decent afternoon. Ben Shields took his first heat win in Monarchs' colours but failed to score in his other rides. It was Dalle Andersson who made the difference despite struggling in his early rides. Dalle only dropped one point in his last four rides and that was in heat 13.
Chris Harris continues to impress. He was only beaten by Dalle Andersson apart his fall in heat 12 chasing Carr and Andersson. Support was provided by guest Troy Pratt and Graeme Gordon and the two home reserves.
Man of the match: Dalle Andersson/Chris Harris
John Lowe with thanks to Mike Hunter