EXCELLENT POINT AT SOMERSET

The Scotwaste Monarchs took a very good and deserved point at Somerset tonight with a last heat 5-1 from Craig Cook and Matthew Wethers.

We had made a real fight of the match, starting with a 5-1 over Doyle, and taking further 5-1s in heats 8 and 15. We led by 2 points at heat 9 and had it not been for a three heat spell from heats 10 to 12 (which we lost 4-14) we might really have caused an upset.

Let's not get too greedy though, this was a fighting show from the team. Early in the season we didn't look a good team on our travels, but in the last two away matches we have really looked a decent side.

Craig Cook was outstanding as always, slipping up only in heat 11 when he lost out to Monberg round the first two bends, then held too much to the inside line and found Newman flying past as well. But Craig did finish 2-0 up on Jason Doyle, his big rival at the top of the PL charts.

Derek Sneddon was involved in two 5-1s, riding alongside Cook in heat 1 and Jozsef Tabaka in heat 8. Our wee Hungarian was very effective in spite of some slow starts, often barging his way into contention round the first two bends.

Andrew Tully didn't start too well, but pulled out a cracking ride in heat 9, much wider than he normally rides, sweeping past Masters and Wright. He was just pushed out of the points in the very tough heat 13 and sometimes because of this race Andrew's score doesn't reflect how well he has ridden.

Theo Pijper didn't have a great night though he pushed Doyle hard in heat 10. It was important to be in a challenging position round the first two turns, if you were out of contention at that stage it was very hard to pick up points.

Marcel Helfer got a good point in his second ride but didn't have another outing till ten heats later.

And then of course there was Matty Wethers! Nobody rides these Somerset bends with more cunning than him. He surprised Monberg with a wide sweep in heat 7, and had a great battle with Newman for second in heat 14. His ride from the back in the final heat was quite brilliant, blocking off Wright's run round the outside then cutting past Monberg as well to delight our substantial travelling support.

The home riders were all useful of course, but their hero was Kyle Newman for these paid wins in heats 11 and 12.