Newcastle Diamonds v Edinburgh Monarchs

REPORT Sunday 9th April 2006, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Rarely if ever in our 58 year history can we have pulled off such an astonishing win as we did at Newcastle on Sunday.

We have seen some spirited performances already this year, but in all honesty we didn't seem to have the power to seriously challenge the very strong Diamonds. Now we have to look at our own side in a new light.

We did it with the assistance of one TR, but Newcastle will recall only too vividly that on our league match visit last year they pulled back a 12-point lead we held at heat 8 with the aid of two TRs. It was our turn this time.

The victory was a team triumph, and you can see how delighted they were by looking at the last of Steve Brock's brilliant photos in our "In Focus" section.

However no-one will begrudge two riders being singled out - William Lawson who kept us in it with his best ever performance, and Henrik Moller who suddenly emerged from his shell with two fantastic paid wins in the latter stages - including heat 13!

For the first nine heats, the limit of our ambitions seemed to be gaining a reasonable score. We started in customary style by missing the gate in heat 1, and it took Theo four laps to catch and pass Christian Henry for second.

Derek showed his value again by leading all the way in heat 2, shared, and we also shared heat 3 behind Franc, pegging back danger man Robertson. William did put some pressure on Pepe early in the heat.

James Grieves beat Rusty in heat 4, and Derek dropped it at the back to concede a 2-4.

Franc led the way again in heat 5 with Robertson this time backing him up for a 5-1, a disappointing result for our opening pair.

A routine home 4-2 in heat 6 put them 10 up, and you can see what I mean about the lack of signs of an away victory. It was all keeping to the script for the Diamonds.

We were in TR territory now but heat 7 didn't seem an appropriate heat. It proved to be one of the key heats of the match though, as William chased race leader Grieves and amazingly passed him, and left him standing! With Matthew in third we had scuppered our anticipated heat 8 TR for Theo, and maybe that was just as well as he didn't score!

That was because he was caught on the outside of the first bend crush, outside Derek and Jamie Robertson, and came off. It could have been "all four back" but Theo was ruled out.

Derek limited the damage with another fine win, holding off Robertson and Henry.

Franc took his third win in heat 9, and McKinna beat Sean Stoddart to restore Newcastle's 10-point lead. We still had no real thoughts of what lay ahead, but heat 10 was the start of the tide turning.

William took a TR and a remarkable heat unfolded. The unbeaten Stancl blew his gate, and it was Christian Henry who led. However his outside line was no match for William's scorching white line riding, and the young Scot took 6. Meanwhile Matthew was gritting his teeth under a stern challenge from Stancl, but he held on to give us a 7-2. The gap was reduced to 5.

There was now an interval, and after that the expectation was that in heat 11 Derek Sneddon would replace Henrik who hadn't ridden well. But it didn't happen, our Dane was given a chance to try a different bike setup.

Theo made the gate - and Henrik was with him! Amazingly it wasn't Grieves in third but Adam McKinna, and Henrik wound it on in a way we hadn't previously seen to take a comfortable second in a real shock 5-1, with Grieves staying well at the rear for four laps.

We were now one down and hopeful of heat 12, but Robertson rode well to lead the way from Derek and Matthew. Still, I think, we felt that a win wasn't likely but it did look as though we were heading for a good score.

Henrik gated well in heat 13 but collided with Stancl entering the first turn. Rusty was away well but the race was stopped with concerns over Henrik, who lay on the track for some time.

The good news was that he would be taking his place in the rerun. The even better news was that the Monarchs made the gate again, leading Stancl and Grieves! Again Grieves trailed all the way, but Henrik was given a fierce challenge by Stancl who seemed to be coming through hard after two laps.

But no - Henrik closed him down with an incredible move entering the pits turn, and went on to clinch the 5-1 behind Rusty! What a turnaround for the wee Dane!

Now we were three up but with plenty to do. Franc and Robertson led the way in heat 14 and seemed set to regain the lead for their team, but once again William showed his excellence on that inside line to storm under Robertson and put us into heat 15 one point ahead.

The Diamonds looked formidable in the last heat - Josef Franc with four wins out of four, and powerful George Stancl. We put out Rusty, not gating well but with a good win in heat 13, and William - not gating well but great from the back on that inside line.

And we did gate well - we were on a 4-2 down the back straight with Rusty in front and Franc trailing at the back. A strong bottom bend by Stancl took him inside Rusty, who immediately looked over to see William alongside him and settled down to ensure the 3-3. This they did with a bit to spare as Franc never challenged.

Celebration time! It took some believing but it seems we have a spirited and talented team once more.

Full Result Details