Best win of the season

Monarchs scored their best victory of the season tonight against the Champions and League leaders Poole. Boosted by a strong start, and perhaps mindful that they have let a few points slip recently, Monarchs showed a steely determination to finish the job this time.

Captain Paco Castagna was the man who actually clinched the points by winning heat 14. He said "Feels amazing, a lot better than last week! I feel we could have won by more but we needed the win and I'll take that every day of the week. They are a strong side, I know they didn't have a full side but we didn't either – we missed Jordy who had been doing so well at home.

"I feel it was a very good meeting. We got to a stage where they got a tactical and came back at us but we had a team talk, we put our heads down and kept plugging away. I feel that in the heats we have struggled in the past like 12,13,14 we went out and did well.

"I'm fairly happy about myself tonight, 9 points on an engine that nearly went on me in heat 14. I feel like I've got confidence back that was missing a couple of months ago. Very proud, blue and gold, another win!"

The home side made such a strong start that they went ten points up by heat 4. Jonatan Grahn as he so often does won the opening race with a great start, and Dan Thompson skilfully worked his way past the Pirates' pair to settle in behind him.

Poole's new reserve pair of Slater Lightcap and Eddie Kennett looked like levelling up until the very impressive American ground to a halt in heat 2. After a Sedgmen – Castagna maximum in heat 3 there was another Pirates' gremlin with Kennett dropping out of heat 4. Monarchs' guest Darryl Ritchings was the beneficiary of these two stoppages, completing the heats to score two vital points.

Lightcap showed how good he is by backing Zach Cook to a 5-1 over Monarchs opening pair in heat 6, and Kye Thomson made it two wins out of two in the next one.

The visiting reserves were paired up again for heat 8 but this time Grahn and Mitch Cluff were sharply away to deliver a 5-1 which restored the 10-point lead. That brought in the inevitable Lawson tac sub ride, and the 5-1 from Lawson and Cook narrowed the gap again. When Lewis Kerr won heat 10, then Lawson and Kennett took a 4-2 from Thomson in heat 11, Monarchs' four-point lead was looking precarious.

Once again Cluff was involved in a decisive heat 12, backing the fast gating Sedgmen for a 5-1. With an 8-point lead, victory was now in sight but it was crucial that Lawson and Cook did not get the better of heat 13, and it was Dan Thompson who ensured that with a great tapes-to-flag win in spite of the Pirates' s strong efforts.

All that was needed now was a second place in heat 14, and Paco Castagna led from the start. Edward Kennett chased so determindly, and actually passed the home man going in to the last turn, but Paco turned back and raced hard for the line to get the race win.

Poole had the aggregate bonus by then, and they finished with a 5-1 from their top two, but the result was a boost for the home fans who saw their team really fight for victory.

There was much attention on the visiting reserves and in truth, both were worth more than they finished with. Lightcap looks an excellent prospect, and the way Kennett was throwing his machine round the Armadale turns was quite amazing, considering he hadn't been there for over 10 years. His only problem is the gating part of the game – and that does matter.

Dan Bewley was a welcome visitor assisting Lightcap and he spoke fondly of his early days at Armadale.

Crunch time against league leaders

After the excitement and drama of last week's breathtaking derby match with Glasgow, the Monarchs face another huge challenge on Friday when the table-topping Poole Pirates come to town.

The Monarchs are currently third, level on points with Scunthorpe and Glasgow, but have not yet secured their place in the play-offs, so they will be hoping for a repeat of their thrilling 46-44 home win over title favourites Poole in the BSN Series back in May.

New faces for Pirates

The Pirates extended their lead in the league last night with a home win over Scunthorpe. but they did the Monarchs no favours last Saturday at Berwick, blowing an eight-point lead with three heats to go, to boost the Bandits' late run for the play-offs. The Borders side will be at Armadale on Friday 21st for yet another crunch late-season fixture and there is still the away leg at Shielfield to come at the end of the month.

After missing four riders at Berwick due to injury, suspension and overseas commitments, the Pirates will have a slightly more familiar look at Armadale and have included an exciting newcomer.

Richard Lawson will be back after a short ban for missing a Premiership fixture for Ipswich due to domestic difficulties. Lawson has been a somewhat polarising figure at Ipswich this year but remains very popular in Dorset and has an outstanding record around Armadale.

Skipper Zach Cook and Lewis Kerr are proven performers and Monarchs fans will enjoy another chance to see teenage sensation Cooper Rushen, who is now at number four. Rushen has been invited into the British Final line-up as a wild card, joining SGP2 contender William Cairns, who will miss the Armadale match due to a Polish commitment. Rider Replacement will apply for Cairns.

The Pirates will have a new face and an old face in their crew on Friday. They have finally found their replacement for long-term injury victim Fraser Bowes and it is an exciting change, with American youngster Slater Lightcap coming in for his UK debut. There is a real buzz about Lightcap. The 20-year-old Californian is a protégé of Greg Hancock and he is doing very well in SGP2 this year. He's been riding in Poland and with his experience on the small tracks in his home state, he should be able to turn a bike around Armadale.

The 'old' face is Edward Kennett of the famous speedway dynasty. Now approaching his 40th birthday in a couple of weeks, Kennett returned to the sport earlier this year with Oxford, where he has now been displaced by the return of Erik Riss. Kennett has found a place, ironically, with King's Lynn Young Stars in the NDL, and will make another of his semi-regular guest appearances for Poole, this time in place of Kyle Newman, who is injured. Kennett has been sensational around Armadale in the past but his last appearance in West Lothian was ten years ago.

Monarchs bruised but unbroken

The Monarchs themselves have suffered a few heavy falls recently. Jordy Loftus is still ruled out under concussion protocols and will be replaced by Oxford's Darryl Ritchings. Darryl turned 32-years-old on Tuesday this week. He actually missed Oxford's visit to Armadale in May but he did well guesting for Workington the previous week, scoring in every race for a total of 6+2. Darryl will partner the resurgent Mitch Cluff who has really stepped it up in recent weeks, including four wins at Poole, beating all of the Pirates other than Lawson and Cook.

It was Dan Thompson who was caught up in a frightening incident last time out at Armadale. Having already missed time this year with a broken collar bone, it is a relief that he escaped serious injury but he does have a sore shoulder. Dan will represent the Monarchs in the British Final at Belle Vue on Saturday, where he will come up against Grand Prix podium star Robert Lambert and the currently unattached Craig Cook, although Dan Bewley is not yet fit to return. The British Final will be televised live on ITV4 on Saturday evening – a welcome return to terrestrial telly for the sport.

Kye Thomson earned everyone's admiration by riding so well against the Tigers last Friday, just two days after a nasty crash at Poole. The Aussie has made himself irreplaceable in both leagues this year and will be vital performer in the league run-in.

Also in the wars last week was the stalwart Justin Sedgmen, who disappeared under the air fence at high speed before climbing back on the bike three heats later. Sedgy was a last-heat hero when Poole were here in May, leading Kye home for the match-clinching 5-1 in heat 15, the only time the Monarchs were ahead on the scoreboard all night.

You can be sure that Paco Castagna will be even more determined than usual this week after his embarrassing last lap 'brain-fart' spoiled what should have been a match-winning ride in heat 14 against Glasgow. It was an otherwise excellent night for the skipper, who still finished on nine points and might be running into his best form at the right time. Every point will be vital once again.

Jonatan Grahn has quietly developed into one of Edinburgh's most reliable performers this year and is always good for a race win at Armadale from the number two slot. Despite a heavy domestic schedule, the smooth Swede has been remarkably consistent. He will have enjoyed a less busy week this week, with only one top league fixture in Sweden, and will be important to the cause.

Crunch time in play-off race

By the end of Friday, the play-off position should be a little bit clearer. Glasgow are hosting Redcar Bears, who are also contenders but may need to take something from home and away fixtures against the Tigers if they are to force their way in after two home defeats – the only club in the top 6 to have lost at home, so far.

The Monarchs know that they will have to beat Berwick next week regardless, but a win against Poole would give them some breathing space – or maybe even yet another draw, if supporters' nerves can take it.

Friday 14th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Poole Pirates, Cab Direct Championship, Armadale Stadium, 7:30pm

ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (captain), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Darryl Ritchings (guest).

POOLE WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, Rider Replacement for William Cairns, Lewis Kerr, Cooper Rushen, Zach Cook (captain), Slater Lightcap, Edward Kennett (guest).