Edinburgh Monarchs v Rye House Rockets

We knew Rye House could be a threat, and so it proved as too many points were thrown away, and the Rockets grabbed a last heat 5-1 to take a match point.

Considering Monarchs led by 10 points after three heats, and by 14 after heat 8, this was a bit disappointing for the home side, though Rye House must take credit with Sundstrom and Hampton absolutely outstanding. Only Ryan Fisher was able to stand up to that duo.

He opened with a fierce pass on Sundstrom coming out of the second bend in the first race. He cut it so fine that Matthew Wethers took advantage and also passed on the next bend.

Guest Josef Franc won heat 2 easily, with a good battle for second between Bugeja and Branney, Rockets? stand-in for Kessler.

Chris Neath was a late arrival and didn?t ride in heat 3, and easy 5-1 for the Wolbert/Wethers pair.

We should have shared heat 4, but Andrew Tully made a poor entry to the road bend on lap two and went straight into the fence.

Frampton had been leading, and made no mistake in the rerun, looking fast.

Sundstrom was back on song in heat 5, though Wolbert did give him a good chase.

Heat 6 was an absolute cracker, with Frampton again powering to the front chased by Fisher. On the final lap the American went for an outside pass and pulled it off brilliantly.

Tully won heat 7 easily and came in as rider replacement to heat 8, winning that as well. Josef Franc backed him to a 5-1 in the latter race and now we were 31-17 ahead.

Frampton took a TR in heat 9 but the race was stopped as Starke and Wethers tangled up on the first bend, Matthew being dragged off his bike as the visiting youngster headed into the fence.

In the rerun, Wolbert didn?t leave the start, leaving Frampton to take 6 points with ease from Wethers. The lead was back down to 10 points.

By giving Arlo a rider replacement ride in heat 10 we avoided the likelihood of Sundstrom getting a TR in the next race. Fisher won heat 10, but heat 11 went wrong anyway as Tully took another of those frustrating first bend tumbles.

In the rerun, Franc rather feebly allowed himself to be pushed wide on the first bend and he couldn?t find a way past Hughes as the Rockets recorded a 5-1.

Chris Neath pushed past Wolbert on the first bend of heat 12, and all we could do was share that one leaving us just six points up going in to a very tough heat 13.

This was a terrific ride by Ryan Fisher, edging ahead on the first turn and withstanding a powerful passing attempt by Frampton on the pits bend. He had to ride hard and fast throughout to keep the Rockets? aces off his back.

That gave us the chance to capitalise in an easier heat 14, and Wethers and Franc duly delivered a 5-1.

So Rye House needed a last heat 5-1 to take a match point. They won the toss and took 2 and 4, and made the start. Fisher locked up badly on the first corner and was out of it, and although Wethers did get close to Frampton at one point, he couldn?t pass and the Rockets had their point.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Rye House Rockets

News of Monarchs' earth-shattering win at King's Lynn is still reverberating around the Premier League clubs, so the Rye House Rockets won't relish being their next opponents at Armadale on Friday night (7.30) having lost at home twice to the same opponents this year.

All the more so since the Rockets' last result was a drubbing against Workington who have well and truly got their second wind. But with Newcastle still also going strong, Edinburgh can't afford any complacency because the Rockets have several riders who will make the league leaders fight for every point.

Up front, Ryan Fisher will have his hands full trying to contain the electric style of Linus Sundstrom who has become one of the most exciting visiting riders. At No 2, Tobias Busch is matched with the up-and-coming Kyle Hughes and will be hoping riders stop falling in front of him!

There's another intriguing match-up at No.3 where the returning Kevin Wolbert is paired against the Rye House captain and third all-time points scorer, Chris Neath, who is in his seventh season at Hoddesdon and is an excellent performer at Armadale when on form.

Next comes our tenacious captain, Matthew Wethers, at No.4 who just keeps improving year on year. His opposite number is the superfit Swede, Stefan Ekberg whom Edinburgh fans will remember from his days at Glasgow before becoming a permanent fixture in Len Silver's team.

Andrew Tully may be flying high at the moment but his opposing No.5 is Jordan Frampton who has added a point and a half to his average this year while Andy's figures have gone marginally down. On paper, the Poole-born visitor is ahead but races aren't won on paper.

At No.6 there is a new face on either side. Just when Cal McDade had a chance of an even match-up with Lee Strudwick, both find themselves replaced, Cal with the much bounced around, Arlo Bugeja, and Lee with rising National League star, Paul Starke.

Only at No.7 do I see a definite clear difference in the match-ups with the new Scottish Open Champion, Josef Frank guesting for the injured Kalle Katajisto who should have much more in the tank than fellow No.7, former Redcar Bear, Robbie Kessler, who is struggling to make his mark.

On the basis of rider confidence, results so far and home advantage, Monarchs should win comfortably, but as the rider match-ups show, there could be a whole lot less between the sides than might be expected. Rye House are in a handy fourth place and can win on their travels too.

So if conditions are to their liking, who knows? Monarchs will certainly have to keep their generous gifting of points to their opponents in check. This should be a good contest ? and there's a couple of new Monarchs to cheer on as well as the top five of the Premier League's leading side.

Probable line-ups:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Tobias Busch, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Arlo Bugeja, Josef Franc (guest).

RYE HOUSE SILVER SKI ROCKETS: Linus Sundstrom, Kyle Hughes, Chris Neath, Stefan Ekberg, Jordan Frampton, Paul Starke, Robbie Kessler.