HARD-FOUGHT THREE POINTS

NEWS Friday 7th August 2009, 0:53am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After an enjoyable tussle the Scotwaste Monarchs pulled clear over the last few heats to beat Sheffield 51-39 at Armadale.

The scores were level at 30-30 after 10 heats and the match points seemed in the balance. We had missed a few chances to go ahead, but over these final races messers Fisher, Wethers and Summers really pulled together to dismiss the Tigers' challenge.

All eyes were on Max Dilger making his debut, and he gated well in his first heat, but was picked off by Joel Parsons early on. Matthew wethers sat with him but eventually took off to chase for the win. Unfortunately Max after a decent first ride lost the third place to Hall off the final corner.

He then ran two lasts, though not badly off the pace, and finally picked up an important point ahead of the stylish Skidmore in heat 12.

The exciting Josh Auty then won heat 13 from Fisher who passed Ashworth, and we had an eventful heat 14 which might have been won by early leader Hall had not Cooper fallen and dislodged the fence on the last bend of lap 2.

That meant the heat had to be rerun, this time with Hall falling while in second.

So Monarchs were 8 up going in to the last race, which was a brilliant heat. Parsons led, Fisher passed on the outside and waved as he went by, then Wethers also pulled off an amazing pass to complete the 5-1.

No-one would have begrudged Sheffield a point but the patched up Monarchs deserve every credit for a fighting show.

Full Result Details