Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears

This was the kind of match that would test the enthusiasm of the keenest fan.

Perhaps you have to expect it in June, but the weather was cool with rain before and during the meeting.

Steve Worrall deserved great praise for his consistent efforts, and he achieved the substantial feat of preventing all of the home side from staying unbeaten.

Both Ben Morley and Jan Graversen were visibly trying and scored reasonably well, but the rest of the visiting team were either unwilling or unable to put on any kind of show.

Lasse Bjerre was unlucky to stop with much popping and banging after gating in heat one, but thereafter his appetite for the fray visibly disappeared. He led the way in trying to have the meeting abandoned at heat 8, thankfully unsuccessful in conditions which were tricky but not much more than that.

There’s not much to be said about the home team because most of the time it was a stroll to them. Erik Riss would be the rider who remembers the meeting with most fondness as he returned his biggest score so far, another step on his upward path.

Craig Cook lost out to Worrall in his opening ride, but thereafter showed great determination to the first turn even though he wasn’t getting away from the tapes quickly. That was all that was required, there was no challenge to any of the race leaders after the first half lap.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears

Having been the very last Premier League side to lose their unbeaten home record, Edinburgh Monarchs face a fresh challenge this Friday when the team currently propping up the League table, the Redcar Bears, make the trip to Armadale.

It has been an awful start to the season for the Bears with only three wins in fourteen starts after they had to completely rebuild their side when their two main scorers from last year, Richard Lawson and Aaron Summers, were both tempted away by Glasgow.

However they have been making attempts to improve the side, and the Monarchs fans will be first to see their latest brand new signing as well as the return of one of the most popular Monarchs of 2014 who will be making a regular guest appearance.

It’s seldom dull when the Bears’ No.1, Lasse Bjerre visits Armadale, so expect fireworks when the Dane lines up against Sam Masters who must be frustrated with how the consistency that took him to the top of the Monarchs team sheet has been slipping.

It’s another Dane at No.2, Jan Graversen who is in his second season with the Bears and, having complained about 6-man opposition teams, this week it’s Monarchs who are forced to operate rider replacement at No.2 for the injured Rob Branford.

It looks an excellent match up at No.3 where Czech Republic rider, Matej Kus, who has switched back and forth between Berwick and Redcar, lines up opposite Kevin Wolbert who has certainly confounded those who initially criticised his signing.

The irrepressible Adam Roynon from Barrow-in-Furness is still on loan to the Bears where he rides at No.4, on the opposite side of the pits from the ever improving Justin Sedgmen who seems to be finding a rich seam of form and points once again.

And what a match up we have at No.5 where Steve Worrall, who must get fed up with guest requests for Armadale, guests in place of Stuart Robson with the task of taming Britain’s second best rider, Craig Cook, who has rediscovered his most dazzling form.

It’s a mystery debutant who lines up at No.6 for the Bears, new signing 23-year-old Jonas B Andersen from Denmark, opposite Max Clegg who has faced some harsh criticism in spite of improving on his starting average in his first full Premier League season.

Redcar’s second reserve is young Ben Morley from Southend who has done most of his riding for Rye House and Kent Kings. He faces the fast improving Erik Riss at No.7, a rider with tons of potential and one who could yet become a regular match winner.

So while the two teams may be at opposite ends of the Premier League table, the Bears have several riders who can give their opposite numbers a run for their money. And with Monarchs having lost at home, every visiting team will now feel they have a chance.

Will Redcar spring a few surprises or will they suffer a backlash from a Monarchs side who will want to put last Friday’s disappointing display behind them? You can find the answer to both these questions and more by taking your place on the terraces. Tapes up at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Sam Masters, R/R for Rob Branford, Kevin Wolbert, Justin Sedgmen, Craig Cook (capt.), Max Clegg, Erik Riss.

REDCAR ‘ECCO’ BEARS: Lasse Bjerre, Jan Graversen, Matej Kus, Adam Roynon, Stevie Worrall (guest), Jonas B Andersen, Ben Morley.