Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions

REPORT Friday 2nd May 2014, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Edinburgh's amazing start to the season continued with their ninth successive win, and they had plenty to spare over Scunthorpe.

They seem to be getting better, with every team member eager to play their part in both piling up the points and assisting each other.

Any doubts that they might get all three points lasted till about heat 5, when Scorpions' opening pair hit back with a 5-1 after two maximum advantages to the home team. From then on, it was all Edinburgh.

Guests Theo Pijper (2) and Mason Campton were the only race winners for Scunthorpe, for whom David Howe and Josh Auty were well below the form they once produced regularly on this track. Auty especially appears to have completely lost his trademark battling attitude.

Craig Cook gave a masterclass for Edinburgh, a paid maximum including twice coming from the back in great style. He also showed a willingness to sit alongside his partner when the occasion demanded.

Stevie Worrall, a three-pointer at the start of the season remember, was scarcely less impressive in a confident and clever display, dropping his only point in heat 2. He more than anyone is the rider who has made this team such an effective one.

The others all rode well and Sam Masters is really starting to look as strong at home as he does away.

The racing was unimpressive in the early heats but from heat 7 onwards matters improved. In this one Ashley Birks made the start but came under powerful pressure from Masters who eventually surged to the front.

We also had Ryan Douglas having the temerity to lead Cook into the last lap on his TR ride in heat 10. He succumbed to Cook's drive up the back straight but surely everyone felt for him as he came down on the last corner and got nothing for such a bold effort.

He did get some reward in his final ride when he bustled past Max Fricke as the young Monarch was trying to protect his partner Derek Sneddon.

Full Result Details