BAGS OF EFFORT BUT A BIG DEFEAT

The Scotwaste Monarchs gave their all against the Somerset Rebels tonight, and provided plenty of good racing, but eventually went down to their biggest defeat of the season by 57-35.

It looks bad, but really you have to see the Rebels on their own circuit at the moment to realise how tough it is to take them on.

The last heat was a case in point. Max Fricke and Justin Sedgmen gated well only for Nick Morris to dive through on the first lap. Max took the battle to him and it seemed we would at least share the race, only for the amazing Brady Kurtz to throw his machine round the fence and pass both our riders.

It looked impossible in the slick conditions, but he did it.

Our riders we distinctly downhearted at the end, but they had not ridden badly. We were only 22-26 down at heat 8, and in several of the races we were well placed until pipped in the latter stages. If anyone has ridden harder or more determinedly this season for a 2-point score than Derek Sneddon did tonight then it would be surprising.

There wasn't a weak link in the Somerset team and every point we gained had to be fought for. Justin Sedgmen as at Berwick was our most consistent rider, scoring in all his programmed rides for paid 10, with a win in heat 8.

Craig Cook started with a last place, then did the fastest time of the night in his second race (a 5-1 to us), followed by a second in his TR ride. Unfortunately he pulled out his cutout prior to the start of heat 13.

Our other race winner was Sam Masters, so desperate to do well against his old team. He beat Morris and Wright in heat 6. Unfortunately he touched the tapes in heat 9, going off 15 metres, and he was pipped in a great battle with Morris in heat 13.

Max Fricke and Steve Worrall were always in the thick of things but like everyone else, they found it tough going.

We had Cradley's Nathan Greaves standing in for Aaron Fox, and he tried very hard.

According to locals we drew by far the biggest crowd of the season other than the Pairs to the OTA, and no doubt most of the crowd went home happy.

Of course we have the Rebels at Armadale on Friday, and we hope to turn the tables. They are not quite as effective away from home as Ipswich can testify, but it will certainly not be easy, especially with a key reserve missing.

SOMERSET CALLING

After an incredible fight back by the Scotwaste Monarchs at Berwick that saw them just miss out on picking up some league points the team move onto Somerset on Wednesday for another league match.

It is, perhaps, the Scotwaste Monarchs greatest test of the season so far. The Rebels regularly score sixty points at home and last Friday scored 72 against Rye House. They are a strength in depth team with both reserves capable of scoring double figures.

After the horror crash at Berwick on Tuesday night , Aaron Fox will not be fit to take his place. He was not detained in hospital but with ashore shoulder and sore head he has been advised not to ride for seven days. Coming in to replace him at the Oak Tree Arena will be Nathan Greaves. Other than that the Scotwaste Monarchs will be at full strength.

The other rider involved in the big Berwick crash, Matthew Wethers, was due to be released from hospital on Wednesday morning, on crutches and very sore, but with no broken bones.