The Score Doesn't Tell The Story

The Border Roofing Monarchs eventually ran out winners in their home match against Scunthorpe by 49-40, a score which gives quite a false impression of what the match was like.

John Campbell said “It was a very tough match on a track affected by the weather, but although we were behind I felt if we kept it close enough we could win it over the last three heats.”

On a track yet again affected by very heavy rain which started about 5, several riders found it hard going and for much of the night it seemed the Scorpions might reverse the result from last Sunday.

They took the lead with a 5-0 in the opening race, when captain Sam Masters stopped while leading with ignition problems. Although Monarchs had pulled them back and led by a point after five races, Scunthorpe then struck again and led by 7 points after eight heats.

A home 5-1 in heat 9 gave Monarchs hope once more but the next three races were shared. So with three heats left Scunthorpe led 37-34, and we needed our top men to step up to the plate.

This they did, finishing with three 5-1s. Sam Masters and Kevin Wolbert were the men who counted in heats 13 and 15, while Ryan Fisher won a dramatic heat 14. In this one Max Clegg at last made a start and was backing Ryen, when Carl Wilkinson came a cropped. In the restart Fisher caught Michael Palm Toft coming out of the second bend with a brilliant wide sweep, while Clegg chased and pressed the Danish rider, finally catching him out of the last corner.

Max got the verdict for second by the narrowest of margins and that was just about enough to ensure victory, Monarchs leading 44-39 going in to the last race.

In the last race Matthew Wethers came a cropper after clashing with Sam Masters on the opening lap, and the eventual 5-1 meant that the luckless Scorpions finished pointless. After the two matches we have had with them, the fact that we took 6 points to Scunthorpe’s none seems extremely hard on tonight’s visitors.

Masters, Wolbert, Fisher and Erik Riss were all strong when it mattered and won ten heats between them. Mark Riss had his poorest match for us, struggling badly on a deeper than usual track, while the reserves picked up useful points.

Douglas, Wilkinson and Wethers all had falls for the visitors, for whom Palm Toft’s 14+1 was the top scorer.

Scorpions Poised To Strike?

So we try again. Another rain off last week in what has been the worst run of weather in club history means we look to build on our two tremendous away victories last week against the Scunthorpe ‘Henderson Insurance’ Scorpions.

Of course this is the return fixture after our 45-44 victory at the Eddie Wright Raceway last Sunday (although this result is pending appeal) in what was reported to be an unbelievable match and the Scorpions will be looking for revenge at the Dale tomorrow night.

Scunthorpe do not have a huge amount of Armadale pedigree in their ranks but they cannot be discounted as their recent victory at Peterborough showed and the Monarchs will look to make our lack of home matches so far count as we push towards the end of season play offs.

There are 2 changes to the Scunny team from last Sunday with Alex Davies being out injured he is replaced by a man who certainly has an Armadale pedigree in Matty Wethers. Matty is showing some of his old for this season and was paid for 14 points in his last visit to the Dale and the visitors would be delighted of a repeat of that tomorrow night. The second change is enforced due to Lakeside’s meeting with Swindon and that means rider replacement for Lewis Kerr with everyone bar Ryan Douglas allowed a ride.

Danger man for the Scunthorpe the last few weeks has been Michael Palm Toft. Since moving to reserve the Dane has been in scintillating form and was paid for 14 against us last Sunday his 3rd double digit return in a row. With the extra rides available keeping Palm Toft quiet will go a long way to helping the Monarchs secure the full 3 points.

The Border Roofing Monarchs return to their declared 1-7 after Dan missed out due to riding for Belle Vue last Sunday and we will hope the recent form of our septet continues. Sam continues to pile up points wherever he rides and has been superbly backed by Ryan and Kevin recently. The Riss brothers continue to impress with Mark taking to British Speedway like a duck to water exceeding expectations so far. At reserve Max has had a strong week with a double figure return in the Elite League to his name and young Dan continues to pile up the points and experience at National League level.

The Monarchs are currently sitting 6th in the table and having ridden the second least amount of home matches in the league we will look to turn Armadale back into a fortress in the coming weeks particularly as some of the big hitters are still to visit as we look towards the end of season playoffs and a chance of a championship hat-trick.

Edinburgh Border Roofing Monarchs

1- Sam Masters

2- Mark Riss

3- Erik Riss

4- Ryan Fisher

5- Kevin Wolbert

6- Max Clegg

7- Dan Bewley

Scunthorpe Henderson Insurance Scorpions

1- Ryan Douglas

2- Matthew Wethers

3- Rider Replacement

4- Carl Wilkinson

5- Josh Auty

6- Michael Palm Toft

7- Josh Bailey