BANDITS HAMMERED

NEWS Friday 4th April 2014, 11:03pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs excelled in difficult conditions, beating a Berwick team which most people believed would run them close. A 61-31 score was far different from most predictions.

Every single one of the home men can be happy with their performance. Perhaps Aaron Fox deserves a special mention for scoring in all of his four heats, making good starts and beating riders who have much more experience of British conditions. The assistance generously given by the Cook family this week paid off.

DDS Monarch of the Match though was Max Fricke, and rightly so. He was most unlucky to come off in heat 15 after losing a chain, because he deserved a full score. His victory from the back over Claus Vissing (who had won his first two heats) was a key moment in the match, and Max seemed to revel in the awkward grippy conditions.

This came about because of the huge amount of rain on Thursday and Friday morning. The track staff toiled and did a great job, but it is fair to say that even the home riders were apprehensive prior to the start.

However none of them allowed the conditions to get the better of them, and it was the Bandits who found things hard – only their three heat leaders really achieved anything.

Steve Worrall again was tremendous – no fuss, fast gates, paid 11 from 4. Justin Sedgmen looked really lively as well, and Derek Sneddon is getting round his home track much better than last year (paid 10 again, same as last week). His second bend to pass Matthew Wethers in heat 14 was outstanding.

Sam Masters didn’t gate too well but fought his way to 6+2, an important contribuition.

And we nearly forgot Craig Cook, a mere 14 with a rare defeat in heat 6 by Claus Vissing, who took advantage of Craig hitting problems twice during the heat (but a good ride by Claus nonetheless).

Looking back, Monarchs were in control throughout, but conditions were such that no-one could relax – it was always possible that things might go wrong. The heat 10 win for Fricke over Vissing (on a TR) probably ended any hopes Berwick might have had of a comeback.

Their first TR had gone to Doolan who fell while leading, then fell again, and even though David Bellego made a point of letting his partner pass him, that was irrelevant as he was behind the home riders.

On Saturday Monarchs head for Berwick, expecting a much different match, but boosted by a super Armadale performance.