Ipswich Witches
Danny King 11+1 (5)
Edinburgh Monarchs
Sam Masters 14 (5)
Championship
46
47
Thursday 27th July 2017
Foxhall Stadium
Ipswich Witches
Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
46
1. Danny King 3 1* 3 2 2 11 1
2. Kyle Newman 1 2 3 2* 8 1
3. Cameron Heeps 2 3 2 3 0 10 0
4. Justin Sedgmen 1* 2* 1* F 4 3
5. Rory Schlein 2 3 2 0 7 0
6. Nathan Greaves 3 0 0 1 4 0
7. Connor Mountain 0 1* 1 0 2 1
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: John Campbell
47
1. Sam Masters 2 E 6 3 3 14 0
2. Theo Pijper 0 1 0 1 0
3. Ricky Wells 3 2 1 2 8 0
4. Max Clegg 0 1* 0 3 4 1
5. Erik Riss 3 3 3 1 1 11 0
6. Josh Pickering 2 0 2 1 1* 2* 8 2
7. Mitchell Davey 1* 0 0 1 1
Heat 1
Time: 56.7
1. Danny King  
3
2. Kyle Newman  
1
1. Sam Masters  
2
2. Theo Pijper  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
4
Away
2
2
Heat 2
Time: 58.8
6. Nathan Greaves  
3
7. Connor Mountain  
0
6. Josh Pickering  
2
7. Mitchell Davey  
1*
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
7
Away
3
5
Heat 3
Time: 57.6
3. Cameron Heeps  
2
4. Justin Sedgmen  
1*
3. Ricky Wells  
3
4. Max Clegg  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
10
Away
3
8
Heat 4
Time: 57.9
5. Rory Schlein  
2
7. Connor Mountain  
1*
5. Erik Riss  
3
7. Mitchell Davey  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
13
Away
3
11
Heat 5
Time: 58.0
3. Cameron Heeps  
2*
4. Justin Sedgmen  
3
1. Sam Masters  
R
2. Theo Pijper  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
18
Away
1
12
Heat 6
Time: 57.1
1. Danny King  
1*
2. Kyle Newman  
2
5. Erik Riss  
3
6. Josh Pickering  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
21
Away
3
15
Heat 7
Time: 57.8
5. Rory Schlein  
3
6. Nathan Greaves  
0
3. Ricky Wells  
2
4. Max Clegg  
1*
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
24
Away
3
18
Heat 8
Time: 58.1
2. Kyle Newman  
3
7. Connor Mountain  
1
2. Theo Pijper  
0
7. Mitchell Davey  
6. Josh Pickering
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
28
Away
2
20
Heat 9
Time: 57.7
3. Cameron Heeps  
2
4. Justin Sedgmen  
1*
5. Erik Riss  
3
6. Josh Pickering  
7. Mitchell Davey
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
31
Away
3
23
Heat 10
Time: 57.2
1. Danny King  
3
2. Kyle Newman  
2*
3. Ricky Wells  
1
4. Max Clegg  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
36
Away
1
24
Heat 11
Time: 57.4
5. Rory Schlein  
2
6. Nathan Greaves  
0
1. Sam Masters  
T6
2. Theo Pijper  
6. Josh Pickering
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
38
Away
7
31
Heat 12
 
3. Cameron Heeps  
3
7. Connor Mountain  
0
3. Ricky Wells  
2
6. Josh Pickering  
1*
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
41
Away
3
34
Heat 13
Time: 57.1
1. Danny King  
2
5. Rory Schlein  
0
1. Sam Masters  
3
5. Erik Riss  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
43
Away
4
38
Heat 14
Time: 58.7
4. Justin Sedgmen  
F
6. Nathan Greaves  
1
4. Max Clegg  
3
7. Mitchell Davey  
6. Josh Pickering
2*
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
1
44
Away
5
43
Heat 15
Time: 57.3
1. Danny King  
2
3. Cameron Heeps  
0
1. Sam Masters  
3
5. Erik Riss  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
46
Away
4
47

The Parsons Peebles Monarchs have pulled off an astonishing win at Ipswich tonight with a 47-46 scoreline after being 12 points down at heat 10. It might be the biggest comeback in our history!

The Parsons Peebles Monarchs produced their best performance of the season so far to claw back a 12 point deficit and win at 47-46 at Ipswich on Thursday night a result that saw the Witches lose their first home match of the season.

Forecast rain that hit a lot of the area but not the Foxhall track meant that the surface was perhaps a little slicker than usual but there was still plenty of close exciting racing if not an abundance of passing but that will be of no concern to the small band of Monarchs fans in attendance.

The Monarchs victory was built on the power of Sam Masters and Erik Riss at the top end and a high scoring return from Josh Pickering at reserve but all the team did their part. Ricky Wells and Max Clegg recorded a heat win apiece. Mitchell Davey beat his opposite number in the reserve race and was unlucky not to do the same in heat 4 and although Theo Pijper struggled on track his willingness to help his team with a loan of his machinery showed just how much of a team man he is.

Monarchs Co Promoter John Campbell was delighted to have seen his side come back to take victory saying after the match “You could see that coming as the meeting progressed and you could see the team pulling together as the night went on. Theo struggled but when Sam had his engine problem he was first out with his bike for the tactical ride and again he was ready with his machine if it was needed in heat 13. Josh had perhaps his best away match of the season. It is all about scoring the right points at the right time and for Sam to go out and win his tactical ride on Theo’s bike is unbelievable. I think to come and win here the most difficult track in the league to win at is fantastic.”

The Monarchs had made a solid start with early heat wins for Ricky Wells and Erik Riss meaning the visitors only trailed by 2 after 5 heats. Unfortunately Masters was to suffer the first of a couple of engine problems in heat 5 not making it past the first bend and the resultant Ipswich 5-1 meant the hosts were 6 up.

The hosts have a powerhouse top 5 and this was proving to be the Monarchs undoing as even if a Monarch did make the start as Erik Riss did in winning his first 3 races more often than not the two Witches riders tucked in behind him. When a Witches rider did win a race this almost inevitably led to a heat advantage and the home men used this to build up to a 12 point advantage by heat 10 and at this stage the Monarchs appeared as if they would leave empty handed.

As is so often the case though a tactical ride was to change the course of the meeting as Sam Masters took 6 big points in heat 11 as previously mentioned on teammate Pijper’s machine. With Pickering gaining an excellent third place the lead had been cut to 7.

This would be further cut in heat 13 when Masters performed the move of the night to cut between Danny King and Rory Schlein coming out of the second bend and with Riss then passing Schlein later in the race the gap was now only 5.

The hope at this stage was the Monarchs could perhaps gain something in heat 14 but at the very least share the heat to try and consolidate a point from the meeting. Lady luck was to smile on the Monarchs though as Justin Sedgmen who had made the gate and was leading comfortably appeared to struggle with machine troubles and came down. Max Clegg and Pickering where in position to take advantage and stroll to a 5-1 and all of a sudden there was only 1 point going into the last race with Masters and Riss sure to be out again and with the pick of the gate positions.

Masters made an imperious start from the inside and with Riss getting himself into third coming out of the second bend the race was on. King and his partner Cameron Heeps kept the pressure on throughout the race but with the Monarchs pair not putting a wheel wrong a match winning 4-2 was clinched to cap an outstanding comeback and gain an unlikely victory.

After the annual break that coincides with the Cardiff GP (made all the longer by the postponement of the pairs on Friday night) it’s back to action for the Parsons Peebles Monarchs as we make the long trek to Ipswich on Thursday night.

Of course the Witches are one of the sides who have overtaken us in the league standings recently and the basis of their strong season has been built on their record around Foxhall. 12 wins out of 12 so far in the league with only Glasgow leaving with so much as a point for their efforts this season. This shows the size of the task ahead for the Monarchs tomorrow especially as the Witches have been more dominant than ever in recent weeks with an average score of 56 points per match since we last visited back at the beginning of June.

On that night the Monarchs battled manfully before going down 50-39 and leaving empty handed. Many in the Monarchs camp were disappointed in that result as we acquitted ourselves well for most of the match only for a mid match slump to cost us and the chance of points with it.

The Witches have been injury hit in recent weeks with both Justin Sedgmen and Kyle Newman taking heavy tumbles that required them to pull out of matches. Ironically neither of these were while riding for the Witches and both happened in televised matches in the Premiership.

Both now appear to be back to fitness and with that the

Witches are expected to line up at full strength. We all know what a powerhouse top 5 the Witches have. Danny King is almost unbeatable around Foxhall and with Rory Schein at 5 they have one of the most potent heat leader pairings around. That is not to say any of the rest of the team is weak in comparison. Cameron Heeps, Sedgmen and Newman make up a rock solid engine room of the team and at the bottom end Connor Mountain has had a fantastic season while Nathan Greaves gets stronger and stronger as the season progresses.

So a mammoth effort will be required should the Monarchs wish to head home with anything from tomorrow’s match. There were sprinklings of hope in our defeat there last month as 5 of our boys raced to at least one heat victory. Sam was his usual self with a double digit score. Erik showed his liking for the circuit winning both his first two races and Josh Pickering impressed everyone with a 4 point score that could have been more but for him sliding off on the last lap of a heat 3 5-1. Ricky and Max also recorded heat wins and with the experience of Theo and Mitchell in the ranks we will go there believing that we can come away with at least a point as is always our aim at any track we visit but the boys are aware of the task that lies ahead.

Despite some rain all over the country in the last couple of days the forecast looks to be on our side tomorrow and an enthralling match awaits. Work commitments actually work in my favour this time as I am in the area so for any Monarchs fans attending the match. See you there!

Ipswich Tru7 Witches: Danny King, Kyle Newman, Cameron Heeps, Justin Sedgmen, Rory Schlein, Nathan Greaves, Connor Mountain

Parsons Peebles Monarchs: Sam Masters, Theo Pijper, Ricky Wells, Max Clegg, Erik Riss, Josh Pickering, Mitchell Davey