Oskar shines but Pipped at the post

Our patched up side with four guests gave a brave, brave display down at Berwick but once again luck was not on our side, and conceding a last heat 1-5 meant that for the second night running we came away with nothing.

Team manager Alex Harkess felt his side deserved something. He said "If it wasn't for the fact that Justin Sedgmen was struggling badly with his injury on what is a demanding track, I'm sure we would have won this match. I felt we did extremely well in the circumstances."

It did look as though Justin had put Friday night's disappointing showing behind him as he romped off with heat 1 in the fastest time of the night, then held a comfortable lead over the formidable Kemp in heat 5 coming down the back straight on the last lap.

However he slowed and conceded yards to Kemp who took the win. It transpired that his previously-injured hand was causing him problems and even though he took one more ride (conceding a 1-5) Sedgy-s night was over. What might have been.

The shining light once more was our brilliant Pole Oskar Polis. He rode his first heat virtually all on the white line for a second place, then reeled off three great wins including holding off a ferocious challenge from Craig Cook in heat 13.

That heat and a shared heat 14 left the scores at 42-42 with one heat left but this time Kemp and Cook outpaced Polis.

Our guests all did their best. Jye Etheridge scored very well on his return to Monarchs' colours and Jason Edwards did enough to merit a heat 15 outing. Luke Harrison seems to be going through a bit of a bad patch but he picked up a couple of points, and Kye Thomson showed determination while trying to find his best form.

A special mention for young Stene Pijper, just turned 16, he rode steadily and let no-one down. Good experience for the boy.

Gating was crucial, believe it or not, and there was only one real pass all night, by Kemp on Etheridge (who was tiring in his first match of the season) to win heat 14. Berwick did have fitness concerns as well with Bastian Borke struggling.

The Monarchs support may have been down a bit on the norm due to the missing guys but no-one who attended could possibly feel let down by the team's efforts. Luck must turn soon.