JUST A POINT AT SHIELFIELD

NEWS Saturday 3rd August 2013, 11:46pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs kept up their record of scoring at least a point in every away league match this season, but a mid match slump cost us a possible victory as we went down 44-46 at Berwick.

In fact our score of 44 was our lowest total in an away match in League or League Cup. We had led by 4 points after 8 races but slumped to 6 behind just three races later, before fighting back and pushing the match to a last heat decider.

The start in the last heat was clearly unfair with both Bandits moving, and the same might be said about heat 11 when Kozza Smith narrowly headed Craig Cook, but on the other hand engine failures for Matthew Wethers (heat 3) and Nicki Barrett (heat 14) cost the Bandits points. It would be difficult to claim that we were unlucky.

Virtually every heat was decided by the second bend on a track that seemed to give everyone a comfortable ride. Only in heats 14 (Wethers passing Sneddon) and 15 (Cook passing Smith) did positions change.

The biggest plus point was the form of Jozsef Tabaka, so disappointing in the Scottish Open but bouncing back here to score 11. That augurs well for the matches to come.

Max Fricke only scored 2 but his first three rides were all competitive, before a disappointing last place in heat 11.

Derek Sneddon did well enough at reserve to score 9 including a good victory in heat 12, but neither Theo Pijper nor Claus Vissing would be happy with their scores (4 and 6 respectively) on a track they are capable of riding very well.

Had the starts been fairer, it's doubtful that Craig Cook would have dropped any points, even allowing for the flying form of David Bellego. Craig set the fastest time of the season in heat 5, and looked fast and smooth throughout.

Coming into the final heat we were two points down, so Craig was asked to take the awkward gate 4 with Jozsef on two. It might have worked but given the ragged start, we did well to share the heat.

Prior to the meeting, which was delayed due to a starting gate malfunction, we were given an update on Ricky Ashworth. It seems tomorrow will be an important day for the injured rider as the medical staff will assist him to regain consciousness. For updates refer to www.berwickbandits.co

Full Result Details