TWELVE POINTS TO MAKE UP

The Scotwaste Monarchs will need to win by more than a dozen points in Friday's KO Cup second leg, after going down 51-39 in the first leg at Shielfield tonight.

Most people on both sides probably felt for much of the night that it was going to be a bigger deficit, especially when we trailed 34-20 at heat 9. No TRs in this competition remember!

However we gritted our teeth and pulled back three 4-2s in succession, lost heat 14 but shared the final race to finish with a deficit which should be within our capabilities to recover - not that it will be an easy task against the determined Bandits.

It was very much a night when you had to make the gate. There was no real overtaking once the second bend sortout was over, and to be honest we were pretty deficient in that department.

Even Craig Cook struggled from the start, opening with three third places, until he flew to victories in heats 13 and 15 in more familiar fashion.

Fortunately for our opening pair, Justin Sedgmen took two wins, and earned the heat 15 outing he likes to get.

Stevie Worrall wasn't even making the best of starts but he did pull off one excellent win over the powerful Vissing-Bellego pair in heat 10. Claus was piling on the pressure in that one.

Max also took one win, almost losing control on the last lap but recovering well to beat Jensen in heat 12.

At reserve, well we struggled. Full marks to Aaron for his steady third place over Kus in heat 12, a remarkable result considering how well Kus was going. However Derek had one of his worst meetings in our colours and we won't be wanting to see too many more like that from him.

The Bandits were well fired up and had in no. 7 Kus the fastest gater of the night. They were unlucky when Bellego packed up in his second ride, and they had a faller in heat 13 when Vissing came down heavily.

On the other hand we were unlucky in heat 3 when Stevie and Max had made the start, only for Matthew Wethers to mess up the turn and come down. First bend bunching, and Matthew won the rerun.

That's Speedway though, and it's all to play for on Friday.

WEATHER LOOKING GOOD

The weather prospects are looking much better today as the Scotwaste Monarchs return to Berwick this evening for the Knock Out Cup quarter final first leg.

Both teams will be at full strength. David Bellego will be back from a torrid time in the first World under 21 GP in Italy on Saturday. There had also been some doubt about Claus Vissing but it has been confirmed that he will take his place.

With the pressure of trying to win every match now lifted the Scotwaste Monarchs will be trying to ......win although any narrow defeat would be acceptable with the second leg coming up at Armadale on Friday.

The winners will face Glasgow or Newcastle in the semi final.