21 POINT ADVANTAGE

NEWS Friday 3rd October 2008, 0:39am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will take a 21-point advantage down to the Oak Tree Arena on Wednesday for the second leg of the Premier Playoffs after a strong performance at Armadale.

Monarchs lost by just four on their visit in the Premier League, though Somerset are undoubtedly a powerful team on their own track.

Monarchs were 26 points ahead at one stage, after 10 heats, before we had an intervention from Jim McGregor who excluded Derek Sneddon after the start of heat 11 for allegedly spinning his wheel, after a previous warning not to do so.

Matthew Wethers fell in the rerun and Somerset took an 8-1, later adding two 4-2's.

With gate 1 proving almost impossible in the latter stages (even Jason Doyle and Ryan Fisher ran lasts when on that gate) this had a bearing, and Monarchs did take a 5-1 in heat 13 followed by a brilliant 4-2 in heat 14 when a typically spectacular effort by Andrew Tully brought him a great win.

The tie is by no means decided but Monarchs have given themselves a chance. It was another solid performance with guest Tomasz Piszcz scoring 6+4.