BANDITS CRUSHED

Expectations of a tough tie at Armadale tonight didn't materialise as the Scotwaste Monarchs hit top form, and stormed to an incredible 67-23 victory over Berwick which made it a 106-74 aggregate win in the quarter final tie.

Alex Harkess said "I wasn't happy with how things went in the first leg on Wednesday and I drummed it in to the boys that we must attack from the start tonight and pile up as many points as we could get. They didn't let me down."

Monarchs had trailed 10-2 after two heats at Berwick, but returned the compliment tonight with 5-1s in the first two races. Bandits' Steen Jensen then won heat 3, but three more 5-1 heat results put Monarchs ahead and well on the road to the semi-finals.

By the end the tally was 9 5-1 heat wins, only that one race win for the Bandits and only one last place for Monarchs (an engine failure for Aaron Fox).

Paid maximums for Craig Cook and for Sam Masters who was grinning more broadly than ever as he finally sorted out his gating problems. "I changed everything!" he said.

Wins or paid wins for everyone, lowest score paid 7, and was it a record home win at Armadale? No, not quite because we beat Scunthorpe 68-22 in 2008.

Nobody wants to see massive scores all the time but at the moment, the team can't help it. Don't forget we only beat Peterborough by 9 four weeks ago. Tonight they let rip and the Bandits had no answer.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits

Having set an undefeated record, let's hope Monarchs are not now going for a record number of consecutive losses when Berwick Bandits visit Armadale tonight in the second leg of the KO Cup tie with a healthy twelve point lead.

At least this is a rare fixture, a second leg tie at the Scotwaste Arena, because so often in the past it has seemed that Monarchs have hosted the first legs and been saddled with trying to guess how many points they would need.

Up front, Monarchs' talismanic No.1, Craig Cook, will surely relish a return to his home shale, and a repeat of the devastating form he showed last Friday would surely be too good for last year's teammate, Claus Vissing..

Justin Sedgmen will be looking for revenge for being closed out in Heat 15 at Berwick and at No.2 this week he faces the mercurial 21-year-old French rider, David Bellego, who left the Glasgow Tigers very much against their wishes.

Rising star, Max Fricke is another who will be hoping to improve on his seven point total in front of his own fans. His opposite number at 3 is the 29-year-old Danish rider, Steen Jensen, who has also got himself promoted from reserve.

Slow burner, Steve Worrall is settling in well to life in the top five and he faces a big challenge this week at No.4 against Berwick's captain who needs no introduction to the Edinburgh faithful, their former captain Matty Wethers.

The sunny Aussie, Sam Masters has yet to achieve the very high targets he set for himself and he also faces a hugely experienced rider at No.5, Kevin Doolan, the 33-year-old fellow Australian now in his fifteenth UK season.

Monarchs' feisty American, Aaron Fox has been showing encouraging improvement around the tight Armadale track and he will be hoping to outscore his opposite number at 6, Bandits' talented home grown 18-year-old, Liam Carr.

Armadale braveheart, Derek Sneddon in particular didn't enjoy his Tweedside trip but he will be relieved that Bandits' top scorer, Matej Kus is unavailable to be replaced at No.7 by multiple British Youth Champion, Nathan Greaves.

Edinburgh's heroes are finding that every other team are now gunning for them, particularly away from home, and they certainly didn't enjoy the track conditions at Shielfield on Wednesday against a very determined Bandits septet.

Twelve points is not an insurmountable hurdle but Monarchs will have to be on top of their game right from the start, just as Berwick were, if they're to make the most of home advantage and progress to the semi-final.

This is one Berwick visit with real bite. Make sure you don't miss the exciting action, and remember, there are no dreaded tactical rides to skew the result! Tapes up at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Steve Worrall, Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Derek Sneddon (capt.).

BERWICK NEW HOLLAND BANDITS: Claus Vissing, David Bellego, Steen Jensen, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Kevin Doolan, Liam Carr, Nathan Greaves.(guest)