Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions

Two points down after five heats with Andrew Tully injured in his first heat, we seemed to be up against it in the second leg of the Premier Trophy semi-final.

Scunthorpe riders had taken four race wins in those first five heats, and seemed well capable of continuing in this vein. It called for some heroic efforts from the home team, with the reserve duo sure to play a big part ? and they came up trumps.

Our performance in the early races was pretty dreadful. Ryan Fisher went into the tapes in heat 1 and went off 15 metres, though he was past Ritchie Hawkins by the second bend. Thereafter he could only sit with Aaron Summers to share the race behind Magnus Karlsson.

Simon Lambert who has been rattling up points made the start in heat 2, and Jerran Hart was with him. Byron Bekker was challenging with Aaron Summers toiling at the back. Bekker looked more competitive that in his home debut a fortnight ago, and drove hard under Hart on the pits bend. Hart came off into the fence, and was the man excluded from the rerun which Lambert won. It looked like the visiting number 7 was going to be a key man.

Again we missed the start in heat 3, but Matthew Wethers passed Carl Wilkinson on the pits corner and we went two points up.

More problems in heat 4 though. Again the Scorpions gated, and Andrew Tully crashed trying to twist his machine on the first corner. He limped off in some pain and that was to be the last we saw of him. Howe and Lambert easily headed Bekker in the rerun and we were behind on the night, level on aggregate.

Magnus Karlsson was looking impressive again even though he has recently had a layoff, and he easily won heat 5.

We had so far achieved virtually nothing and needed to raise our game. At last we made a start in heat 6, Michal Rajkowski leading the way with Ryan Fisher slotting between him and David Howe. Ryan was in trouble once or twice but David Howe was surprisingly ineffective and we took the 5-1.

There were three shots at heat 7, the first a total shambles. Aaron Summers went ahead round the outside of the first turn, and Carl Wilkinson fell. He remounted, then Summers stopped on the back straight. The riders seemed to believe the race had been stopped, proceeding half-heartedly round the track while looking round, stopping and starting.

Summers pushed on to the centre, Bekker went ahead of Bergstrom, and then the heat was stopped. After quite a delay, a rerun with all four was announced, a bit of a letoff for Summers. He again took the lead in the second running, but the heat was stopped again when Bekker dived inside Bergstrom who fell on the pits turn.

Bekker was showing spirit, and again he got the benefit of the doubt from the referee. Finally the race was complete with Monarchs taking a 4-2.

Heat 8 was a clear chance to extent the lead, and this chance was decisively taken by Wethers and Summers with Simon Lambert beaten for the first time.

David Howe was back on the winning trail in heat 9 but Rajkowski and Wethers kept Lambert at the back.

In heat 10 we saw the best ride yet by Byron Bekker. Ryan Fisher won easily but the young South African came round the outside to get ahead of Wilkinson, and held on with a quick and steady ride. He got a great reception.

With a 12-point lead we were now in with a great chance, even though Magnus Karlsson was on a TR in heat 11. He took 6 with Lambert splitting the Monarchs reserves, shaving 5 points off our lead.

However Aaron Summers was to the fore again winning heat 12 with Rajkowski ahead of that man Lambert again. An 11-point lead meant that just by gaining finishers over the last three heats we would win on aggregate.

Karlsson gated again in heat 13 but he held it too tight round the first bend and allowed Fisher to sweep by. David Howe had spluttered off the start, and he found that he was too far behind Bekker to regain ground, and we took a 4-2.

So Lambert took the second TR in heat 14 and managed 4 points in a heat won by Matthew Wethers. That was a 5-3 for Scunny, who might well have taken a 5-1 in the last heat but for a determined ride by Fisher who narrowly grabbed second from Wilkinson after passing and repassing on the final turn.

Over the last ten heats, a fine backs-to-the-wall effort by Monarchs in difficult circumstances.

HERMISTON MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Byron Bekker

Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions

Having emerged victorious in the Premier Trophy semi final first leg a couple of weeks ago, the Scotwaste Monarchs look to finish the job on Friday when they again face the Scunthorpe Scorpions.

The supremely powerful Kings Lynn Stars lie in waiting in the final as the Monarchs look to successfully defend the trophy they won for the first time in 2008. And, while the win at the Eddie Wright Raceway was welcome, it doesn?t necessarily mean this Friday?s clash is a foregone conclusion.

The Scorpions have been at it again in the team strengthening stakes. Gone from the first leg line up is recent recruit Adam Allott, who has been replaced by the ?fit again? Ritchie Hawkins. The son of former rider Kevin has had a couple of horrible, injury ruined, years but is now hopefully about to enjoy some better luck. His inclusion should also add some scoring strength to the side?s top 5 as, while Allott did an ok job, he didn?t really look ?the answer?.

The North Lincolnshire outfit are led by Magnus Karlsson and David Howe, who are always impressive at the Scotwaste Arena and who both enjoyed decent returns on their last visit. Magnus has also had the pleasure of becoming a father recently, so he?ll be looking to score as many points as possible, such is the price of nappies nowadays!

And if their top end is a threat, it?s probably fair to say star reserve Simon Lambert almost singlehandedly kept his side in with a shout for the second leg. A score of paid 17 from his seven outings was certainly much needed. Had he been off form that night, we may as well have given our guys a rest on Friday night!

Lambert?s partner, Jerran Hart, was highly rated when he set out on his senior career last season. He showed promise during spells at both Newport and Newcastle and subsequently earned himself a move to Scunny in 2009. He?s also the number 8 for Ipswich in the Elite League although, if memory serves me correctly, he sports a pair of Lakeside kevlars!

The Scorpions? middle order is possibly where any weak links lie. As well as Ritchie Hawkins, the Carl Wilkinson / Viktor Bergstrom duo haven?t enjoyed the best of luck in recent weeks. If they score anything like their capabilities, their team could be looking at breaking the 40 point barrier they only just reached in May.

In the home camp, the rider replacement facility makes a comeback as Thomas H Jonasson is in Sweden this weekend, competing in his homeland?s Junior and Senior Finals. Good luck to him for both events! As he is currently lying third in our averages, all bar Ryan Fisher are eligible for an extra outing.

Following the rain of last weekend, which saw the home tie with Somerset and a trip to Stoke washed out, we?d better hope the home riders aren?t feeling rusty! Although, having heard about his ?stiff neck? from his crash at Newport, I get the feeling Matthew Wethers was more than happy not to be buzzing round in circles in the wet! Hopefully our skipper will have regained full fitness now.

One man who will no doubt be keen to score a few points is former Scunthorpe man Byron Bekker. The young South African is still contracted to the Scorpions but has stepped in to fill the void left by the departing Sean Stoddart. He enjoyed a steady home debut against Kings Lynn a fortnight ago so let?s hope he continues in that vein.

On a personal note, I?ll be in the Sponsors? Lounge this week so, if you see a tipsy twig staggering around the terracing from the middle of the meeting onwards, you?ll know who it is!

Here?s to some dry weather for a change and, as always, may the best team win...

Line-ups:

Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, r/r for Thomas H Jonasson, Michal Rajkowski, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.

Scorpions: Magnus Karlsson, Viktor Bergstrom, Ritchie Hawkins, Carl Wilkinson, David Howe, Jerran Hart, Simon Lambert.