Edinburgh Monarchs v Somerset Rebels

Somerset proved to be one of the lesser hurdles for the Scotwaste Monarchs at Armadale this season and the three points always looked to be in safe hands.

They were clinched long before the end as Monarchs gave one of their most solid performances of the season with all seven riders on form.

They were off to a strong start with Fisher and Wethers pulling away from Gathercole in heat 1. The Aussie made such a mess of the last bend that Hawkins finished third.

There was an encouraging first bend outside move by William Lawson as he went to the front to win the heat. For most of the race though all eyes were on Ashley Morris who rounded Kyle Howarth and moved in on Holder, riding steadily for a good point.

Kevin Wolbert continued recent excellent form with a good win in heat 3, while Sam Masters showed what a quick learner he is by staying close on his first Armadale ride. Kalle got third with Hefenbrock a mile behind.

Old enemy Parker was quickly into the groove with a smooth win in heat 4, well ahead of Tully and Lawson who shared the heat comfortably.

Kevin and Kalle worked hard on the first lap of heat 5 to edge ahead of Gathercole, whose unlucky night continued when he stopped late in the heat.

Fisher dealt firmy with Parker off the second bend in heat 6, and Matthew Wethers burst past also going onto the pits turn. However Matthew lifted and Parker got back round him into second.

We were now 25-11 ahead and Masters took a TR in heat 7. This maybe was the reason behind Andrew?s premature start, bursting through the tapes.

We had brought in William Lawson to the heat and Andrew went off 15 metres. He easily passed the woeful Hefenbrock but it was an easy 6 points for Masters.

We gave Morris his second ride in heat 8, but this time he didn?t get amongst the opposition as Matthew won easily.

Heat 9 was interesting at the first attempt; Katajisto pulled off a brilliant outside pass off the second bend to lead Parker, but he lost control on the pits corner. This enabled Wolbert to slip inside Parker, who wasn?t happy about being baulked by Kalle. However as Howarth fell at the back, the heat was stopped anyway.

In the rerun Parker led all the way though Wolbert made up quite a bit of ground.

Fisher and Wethers then put Masters firmly in his place to extend the score to 39-24, which felt like a safe lead.

That was confirmed when rebels gave the pointless Gathercole the second TR in heat 11, and he fell while chasing race leader Tully. That was Corey out of the match, one to forget for him.

We took a 4-2 in the rerun, with William still looking tentative on the inside line, beaten by Hawkins.

Wolbert won heat 12 easily from Masters but all eyes again were on Morris who slipped neatly inside Holder when the Aussie locked up.

Heat 13 was another impressive Parker show, this time beating Fisher. Ryan gave it his all, locking up and cutting back on each bend, but he remained that elusive yard behind.

Kalle took his first win in heat 14, and this time Morris made a poor first turn and lost a lot of ground which he could not regain.

Fisher and Wolbert managed to get away from the start in the final heat, and although Parker stayed close he didn?t have a passing chance. A good win and a fairly easy one for the title contenders.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Somerset Rebels

Edinburgh will look to extend their ten point lead at the top of the Premier League tonight (7.30) when they face yet another potential banana skin in the shape of the re-vamped Somerset Rebels with their core of four Australians.

This is the first opportunity Monarchs fans will have had to see the Rebels in action at Armadale, something which will hopefully count in favour of the home side. But Somerset are now a better side than their lowly league position suggests due to a much-changed line-up.

Ryan Fisher will face the young up-and-coming Australian, Cory Gathercole, second cousin of Leigh Adams. Cory is now in his fourth UK season with an 8-point average that is still pushing ever upwards. This in spite of the setback of a dislocated shoulder earlier in the year.

Matthew Wethers lines up at No.2 against a rider with the proverbial 'more clubs than Jack Nicklaus', Ritchie Hawkins from Peterborough. A rider who switched from motoX, Ritchie is another who is pushing his average up this season, having suffered his share of injury in the past.

Kevin Wolbert will at least have someone to chat to at the tapes tonight as he faces fellow German, Christian Hefenbrock at No.3. Having unluckily missed out on an Elite League spot this year, Christian looks a very good replacement indeed for the struggling Lubos Tomicek.

Kalle Katajisto is now settling into the top half of the team and faces young Australian hot-shot, Sam Masters who has a very creditable 6.65 average already in his first UK season. Somerset won a six-club race to sign him and it looks a master stroke.

Andrew Tully will need no introduction to his opposite number at No.5 because it's former Glasgow favourite Shane Parker. The 21-year veteran is having yet another 'just one more season'. His average may be on the slide, but nobody knows better how to ride the Armadale track.

Monarchs introduce the latest and hopefully last in their conveyor belt of reserve changes with the highly recommended Ashley Morris, riding for Dudley Heathens and already signed by Wolves at the age of sixteen. The Monarchs fans are sure to take to him.

He is faced at No.6 by the fourth Australian in the visiting seven, James Holder, wee brother of Grand Prix star, Chris. That must bring a heavy weight of expectation, But James will progress at his own pace, having been brought in to replace Tommy Allen.

William Lawson, hopefully about to burst fully into life at No.7 faces young Manchester-born Kyle Howarth, now in his second UK season and having been elevated from the Bournemouth Buccaneers side to replace a fifth Australian, Jake Anderson.

Monarchs will again have to be on their toes against a side who are beginning to improve and are capable of springing more than a few surprises. They have a good blend of Elite League experience and youthful promise and three strong heat leaders.

The racing is sure to be keenly-fought and the fans will have the chance to see a different side and a sprinkling of new faces (under the helmets). Monarchs have a solid looking top five for home matches at least but the reserve battles will be as important as ever.

Monarchs should have too much in the tank for the Rebels, fresh from their televised draw with Glasgow, but it's a mouth-watering prospect with some very intriguing rider match-ups. Don't miss it!

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWATE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Ashley Morris, William Lawson.

SOMERSET 'DICKIES' REBELS: Cory Gathercole, Ritchie Hawkins, Christian Hefenbrock, Sam Masters, Shane Parker, James Holder, Kyle Howarth.