Sheffield Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs

We?ve had a good run in the Knockout Cup in recent seasons, but we have given ourselves a lot to do if we are to make progress this season.

Sheffield got much the better of the first leg and with a 59-31 lead they will be feeling pretty confident. Shane Parker and Ricky Ashworth dominated the Owlerton leg, with good contributions right through their order. Reserve Simon Lambert was a key man.

In contrast the Scotwaste Monarchs were far from solid. Matthew Wethers and Kyle Howarth deserve the utmost praise for fighting displays, but none of the others performed well. In Craig Cook?s case his poor night certainly owed much to his crash last Friday.

And yet we stood at 15-15 after five heats! At that point we might have at least expected to keep it close but over the final six races we only managed to beat one opposition rider.

In the opening heat Matthew Wethers took up the chase on leader Ashworth and was within a couple of lengths throughout. A fair way back, Skidmore got the better of the tussle for the point with Wolbert who eventually dropped out.

Lee Dicken stopped on the first corner of heat 2, but Kyle Howarth was quickly away and rode an excellent race to stay a few lengths clear of Lambert.

Andre Tully gated well in heat 3, and held the lead for almost two laps, but Auty eventually came round the outside to win. Kalle Katajisto was well at the rear, whether due to his arm injury or slow machinery we were not sure, but it didn?t look promising.

Kyle made another excellent start in heat 4 though Shane Parker was soon past. Craig was at the back early on but eventually worked his way round Birks, though he didn?t look his usual lively self.

We were four down but sorted that out in heat 5, Wolbert flying from the tapes and Wethers slotting in behind in his usual fashion. They had to go fast because Auty was chasing, and they did, never allowing him a chance. That made it 15-15 and at that point it seemed we could keep things tight.

The next two races showed the danger of making predictions at Sheffield. Skidmore/Ashworth easily beat Cook in heat 6, then Parker sat inside Lambert to fend off the close attentions of Tully and suddenly we were 8 down with a long way to go.

Matthew lifted at the start in heat 8 but still rode a brilliant first turn to squeeze round the outside of everyone down the back straight. Kyle picked up another point and we were now 6 down.

Kyle came in to heat 9 and with Craig shared heat 9 by keeping Sanchez ate the rear while Auty soared away in front.

Andrew Tully seemed to be well placed coming off the second bend of heat 10, but Skidmore got ahead of him and it didn?t take long for Ashworth to come through also for a 5-1, the start of our slide.

We should have shared heat 11 with Parker leading, followed by Wethers and Wolbert, but Kevin made a mess of things and allowed Lambert to come through for the point.

We then caved in completely and scored 4 over the last four heats, the only effort worthy of mention being Matthew?s brave chase on Ashworth and Parker in heat 15. It was painful to watch and our performance in the return leg will have to be something special if we are to regain this lost ground.