Title Partner
REPORT Friday 11th April 2014, 10:00pm
Edinburgh Monarchs
Workington looked like the toughest test yet at Armadale, but the Scotwaste Monarchs were more than equal to their challenge, even though Derek Sneddon was forced out of the meeting with a back injury.
The opening heat was interesting as Aaron Fox got himself to the front, and Craig Cook tried to sit with him. For a couple of laps they led Grajczonek, but the pace got a bit hot and Cook eventually had to kick on as the visiting pair passed Fox.
The advantage Monarchs were to have at reserve was pretty obvious as early as heat 2, though Chris Mills missed this race due to his late arrival. Justin Sedgmen and Steve Worrall flew to a big 5-1 over Ashley Morris who had a disappointing night.
Derek Sneddon led heat 3 but Ricky Wells worked his way inside up the back straight on lap two and reached the third bend slightly ahead. Derek tried to turn back but was in an awkward spot and came down. It didn’t look too serious but he had injured his back.
Steve Worrall showed his quality by leading all the way in heat 4, a good race with the leading three close throughout. Rene Bach was trying to get to Worrall but at the same time Sam Masters was diving inside Rene at every corner. In the end it finished a home 4-2.
Derek Sneddon came down on the first turn of heat 5 and that was the end of Derek’s night. The Comets were in front this time and with Grajczonek leading, Max Fricke could not get past Campton in spite of puttinga lot of pressure on the inside line. So Monarchs now led by just 16-14.
Cook easily won heat 6 but this time partner Fox made a poor first turn and the heat was shared.
Heat 7 was a turning point in the match. Howarth and Wells led the heat with Sam Masters third, Wells riding a comfortable inside line but Kyle Howarth racing hard and swinging wide coming out of each turn. Eventually Sam worked his way inside Kyle, and as the Comets’ man tried to turn back, he lost control and fell heavily on the last corner.
That man Worrall was away again in heat 8, and this time Aaron Fox was right in the mix. He was well clear of Morris and pressing hard on Campton, trying to go round him. It was a good effort but on the last lap he got too close to Campton, hit his back wheel and fell.
So this time Monarchs had failed to extend their lead and the match was still in the balance at 25-23.
Over the next two heats Monarchs made a big move. On the first corner of heat 9 Rene Bach came down and was excluded, and in the rerun Worrall and Fricke easily headed Mills who had by now arrived.
Sedgmen came in for Fox in heat 10 and teamed up with Cook for a pretty comfortable 5-1 over Wells and Howarth, who had recovered from his earlier tumble.
This allowed a TR for Grajczonek in the next heat. Sam Masters made the gate though and led down the back straight, but Campton had gone into the air fence at the back and the heat was stopped. In the rerun Sam gated again but Josh was wise to him this time and slipped up the inside to take 6 points.
We were now 7 ahead. Max Fricke beat Wells again in heat 12, with Sedgmen third and we were now starting to feel that we had the upper hand.
Cook made no mistake in heat 13 heading Grajczonek who wasn’t too far back, while Masters kept Bach at the back. That put us 11 up with the match secured.
Another 4-2 in heat 14, won by Sedgmen, with Steve Worrall third, ensured that we had all 3 points with the last heat still to be run.
At this point some of the track lights went out and we had a delay while they were sorted. We have the best electricians in speedway but we don’t have the best electrics!
When the heat was eventually run, it was a lovely combination ride by Cook and Fricke, well clear of the top two Comets. So we had a winning margin of 17 by the end, far more than had seemed likely at heat 8, and we could be happy with another very strong showing.
© Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway 2024
Bathgate Road
Armadale
EH48 2PD
