THAT MAKES 11 IN A ROW

NEWS Saturday 10th May 2014, 9:41pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Plymouth looked like our toughest assignment yet without Max but we actually turned it into one of our most comfortable victories, with all four points sewn up with a couple of heats to go.

We actually started with two 4-2 heat losses (winners Barker and Newman), on a track looking quite slippery and bumpy. However, over the next three heats we hit the booster button.

Justin gave notice that he was in for a good night with a smooth win in heat three. Derek was at the back for a while but passed Devils' new signing Adam Roynon.

Sam Simota fell early in heat four which left Sam Masters and Stevie Worrall to comfortably take 5 and put us ahead. Next up Craig and Justin took another maximum and we were now six up!

Barker gated in heat six with partner Kalle Katajisto at the back. Kalle came under Aaron Fox going into the third turn, Aaron came off and Kalle was rather harshly excluded. (This was evened up later on).

So the rerun was shared, but we went further ahead through a maximum for Justin and Derek in heat seven, which gave Plymouth a TR in heat eight.

This was one of the best heats of the night, a win for Sam Masters on a r/r ride with Kalle winning a race-long tussle over Stevie to make it a 4-4. The score was now 20-30 and our only concern was maybe the second TR.

Heat nine took several runnings. The first time we made the start with Sam clamping Jensen to the line. The Devils got in a tangle and both fell but it was all four back.

There were a couple of false starts, then a stoppage when Aaron came past Adam Roynon who fell. This time Aaron didn't get the decision.

Finally the Devils took a 4-2 which at least avoided giving the TR to Barker, out again with Kalle. Could we counter this dangerous pair?

No bother to the flying Sedgmen! He came off gate four and led all the way while Derek gave Barker plenty to think about and just lot out for the point. That was a crucial heat.

We then completely killed the match off. A nice team ride by Craig along with Stevie kept Newman in third, then we had Stevie again with Justin in heat 12, the latter taking his score to paid 15!

Roynon was on a TR in this heat which was Devils' only remaining option.

At 29-45 it was all over. A great outside line took Cook clear of Barker for a revenge win in heat 13, in spite of a slightly dogy last bend.

We eased off and lost the last two heats (Craig missing heat 15 for the first time since 2012) but the match was well and truly won with another great performance.

It was another great team effort, with both Derek Sneddon and Aaron Fox worth more than their scores. But the star man this time was Mr Sedgmen.