Title Partner
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: Alex Harkess |
55 | ||||||||
| 1. Craig Cook | 2 | 2* | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |||
| 2. Justin Sedgmen | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2* | 7 | 1 | |||
| 3. Max Fricke | 2* | 0 | 1 | 2* | 5 | 2 | |||
| 4. Stevie Worrall | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1* | 12 | 1 | ||
| 5. Sam Masters | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 6. Max Clegg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 7. Derek Sneddon | 3 | 2* | 0 | 3 | 1* | 9 | 2 | ||
Somerset Rebels
Team Manager: Garry May |
39 | ||||||||
| 1. Nick Morris | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2. Charles Wright | 1 | 1* | 1 | 1* | 4 | 2 | |||
| 3. Brady Kurtz | 0 | 1* | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 4. Pontus Aspgren | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | X | 9 | 0 | ||
| 5. Olly Allen | R | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 6. Todd Kurtz | 2 | 0 | F | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 7. Paul Starke | 1* | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
The Scotwaste Monarchs swept back to the top of the Premier League and maintained their perfect home record with a big win by 55-39 over Somerset Rebels in a match billed as the Monarchs' biggest home test.
That it may well have been but they passed with flying colours. The whole team performed well but we might be excused if a special mention is reserved for Sam Masters, Derek Sneddon and Steve Worrall.
There was a big pre-match worry when Masters blew his Scottish Open-winning engine to pieces in the pits, leaving only the engine he used at Berwick on Tuesday and struggled with. There was a bigger smile than ever from Sam by the end of the night after one of his best displays yet!
"It looks like that is now my best Armadale engine after all!" he said. "Robbie and I made some changes but we hadn't meant to use it till we were forced into it."
A superb 14 points was the result.
Captain / reserve Derek Sneddon had been under pressure recently with supporters calling for 'changes' but he responded superbly with some ship-steadying heats, two vital wins and paid 11 points.
And the amazing Mr Cool himself, Steve Worrall, won his first three heats and ensured that the Rebels could make no progress against the middle pair either, even though Max Fricke was struggling a little with what he thinks might be a bent frame.
The opening pair of Craig Cook and Justin Sedgmen lost the first race 2-4, and even then Craig had to pass Charles Wright late in the race. That was ominous but they were back on song with 5-1s in heats 6 and 10.
Of course Aaron Fox missed the match after that massive purler on Tuesday, and we were pleased to have Max Clegg stand in at short notice, for which John Campbell thanked him. As on his previous appearance Max showed a nice style.
Sam Masters provided some of the racing highlights. In heat 4 he scattered the Rebels with one of his third bend special dives and brought Derek Sneddon through as well, and he topped that in heat 13 with an incredible pass of Nick Morris. He also defeated both the Rebels TRs, Pontus Aspgren in heat 7 and Nick Morris in heat 11. Other than maybe the Scottish Open this was Sam's best home showing so far.
Derek Sneddon also did some good work from the back, and Craig Cook as well as passing Wright in heat 1, also caught Ollie Allen in heat 13. Craig's gating is not at its top level at the moment though.
Max Fricke had one excellent ride from the back, joining Derek for a heat 12 5-1 after initially being at the back.
It was difficult to know if the Rebels were disappointing or the Monarchs were just outstanding. Nick Morris never has any problem getting round Armadale and won two races, with his only backing coming from Aspgren who managed a win in heat 14. Reserve Paul Starke won heat 8 but when used in the latter stages, ran two lasts.
PL Champion Ollie Allen had an awful night, riding wildly at times. In heat 9 he scattered everyone when he careered across the first bend, and later in the race he clearly brought down his partner Todd Kurtz, but he was surprisingly allowed to carry on.
Aaron Fox was present but it might be a few days before we have a better idea of his prospects of returning in the near future.
Tonight could be a defining one for the Scotwaste Monarchs' season when the top club in the North face the top club from the South, the Somerset Cases Rebels in a top of the table clash at Armadale's Scotwaste Arena.
After a tough week on the road, the Monarchs' riders will be happy to see their home shale again with the chance to re-group and show they can put a couple of reverses away from home firmly behind them.
Craig Cook had clearly impressed Chris Louis on Ipswich's recent Armadale visit and this week his opposing No.1 is 20-year-old Nick Morris from Canberra who was first brought to these shores by Glasgow and has certainly put his name in the speedway headlines.
Justin Sedgmen continues to impress with his quiet consistency and he lines up opposite the much improved Somerset No.2, Charles Wright from Stockport who is now making strides after ten years in the sport, having briefly appeared as a Monarchs' reserve two years ago.
What a line-up at No.3 where two of Australia's finest future prospects face each other. Max Fricke is now a second-year 'veteran' compared to the Rebels' 17-year-old Brady Kurtz who is a first season sensation who has already well exceeded his assessed five point average.
Steve Worrall's profile has somewhat diminished since his elevation from reserve and his opposite number at 4 is the 23-year-old Swedish prospect, Pontus Aspgren, who was snapped up from the 2013 Rye House Rockets after he first appeared with Wolverhampton Wolves.
Sam Masters will be keen to continue his rich vein of home form but he will have his work cut out at No.5 against Olly Allen from Norwich who stepped seamlessly into the captain's slot vacated by last season's hero, Jason Doyle who is another Aussie forced to sit out a season.
The unlucky Aaron Fox is likely to have an injury replacement tonight following his televised crash at Berwick. At No.6 for Somerset is big brother and former Australian long track champion, 21-year-old Todd Kurtz who previously had three years at Newport and two at Plymouth.
Derek Sneddon continues to put in 100% effort which isn't always reflected in his scores and he will be hoping to eclipse his opposite number 7, 23-year-old Paul Starke from Cradley who has seven seasons of experience and was part of the all-conquering 2013 Dudley Heathens side.
The secret of the Rebels' success is having two leading riders who have just about maintained their 2013 form while the five riders below them have all significantly improved on their starting averages. Like Monarchs, they also routinely destroy any sides who visit their home track.
These two sides are likely to see each other quite a bit over the second half of the season and many believe one or other will eventually be the top Premier League side, so tonight's match will give a fair indication of which this is likely to be, particularly in terms of two-leg fixtures.
Somerset will arrive on the crest of a wave of confidence, so Edinburgh's unbeaten home record will never be more seriously threatened. This is a match any speedway fan in the country would love to witness, so make sure you are there to support your heroes. Tapes up at 7.30 sharp.
Likely line-ups:
EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Steve Worrall, Sam Masters, A. N Other reserve guest, Derek Sneddon (capt.).
SOMERSET CASES REBELS: Nick Morris, Charles Wright, Brady Kurtz, Pontus Aspgren, Oliver Allen (capt.), Todd Kurtz, Paul Starke.
Friday 15th August 2014, 9:45pm
Scotwaste Monarchs took ample revenge for their defeat at Somerset on Wednesday by defeating the Rebels by 55 to 39 at Armadale on Friday in a rousing meeting.
Friday 15th August 2014, 1:48pm
After sitting at the top of the Premier League for many weeks the Scotwaste Monarchs face the new league leaders, the Somerset Rebels, in a clash of two of this seasons giants of the league at Armadale this evening.
Tuesday 12th August 2014, 9:43am
The Scotwaste Monarchs embark on Tuesday on their busiest week of the season (by far) which includes a fascinating clash at Armadale on Friday with the reigning league champions the Somerset Rebels.
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