Title Partner
REPORT Friday 27th April 2007, 10:00pm
Edinburgh Monarchs
With 30 points from the top two, the Scotwaste Monarchs controlled the match and beat Stoke easily in an enjoyable evening's entertainment.
For William Lawson, this represented a dramatic turnaround after recent disappointing showings. Right from the first running of heat 3, stopped after an unsatisfactory start, William looked much more confident. He made good starts and even when he didn't gate in front, he moved through the field decisively.
Monarchs had an excellent reserve pairing also - the ex-Dale Devils duo of Andrew Tully and Sean Stoddart totalled 15 and played an important role.
As is now customary, Ronnie Correy piled up a big score in smooth style and dropped just a single point, to top Potter Rusty Harrison in heat 13.
Stoke played their part in a good match withRusty having his best match for a while and Ben Barker, Lee Complin and Jack Hargreaves all displaying watchable styles.
The first couple of heats didn't quite go according to plan. Henrik Moller had bike problems at the start of heat 1, won easily by Correy, and Jack Hargreaves rode side by side with Sean Stoddart in heat two for a couple of laps before pulling clear for a good win.
Heat 3 was stopped for an unsatisfactory start with Lawson leading, but he did it again off gate 4 in the rerun, rounding Garry Stead at the first corner. Already, William looked like a new man. Henrik switched to come out on the Correy machine and took a comfortable third.
Heat 4 was an intriguing race with Andrew Tully brilliantly moving through the field, taking Harrison on the fourth corner with a fine inside pass. Meanwhile Matthew Wethers was struggling a bit at the rear but caught Hargreaves on the run to the line.
We doubled our advantage in heat 6, an easy Lawson/Moller 5-1 and then added a 4-2 from Correy and rider replacement Tully over Harrison.
Ten points up, we might have expected Garry Stead to take a TR in the next heat - Potters weren't exactly spoilt for choice. But they missed this chance, and Steady duly won the heat from Matthew. Lee Complin showed his style to take a third.
We were back in control over the next three heats though. Heat 8 went easily to Lawson and Tully ahead of the bouncing Barker who was always worth watching.
William was out again in heat 9 and made his poorest start of the night. He came past his partner and moved in on Harrison, always looking like passing and assisted when Rusty lifted off the pits corner and almost hit the fence.
Henrik lost third place to Barrie Evans but regained it to give us a 4-2.
It was three abreast down the back straight in heat 10 before Correy moved ahead round the outside. Matthew edged ahead of Stead and rode a clever race to deny the visitor any way through on the inside.
Matthew was a winner in heat 11, keeping TR Cunningham in second spot, but this time Andrew Tully could make no impression on Ben Barker. Potters took a 5-3.
Sean Stoddart's first two rides had been unexceptional but he rode an excellent outside line on the first corner of heat 12. Lawson slotted in behind him, managed to avoid running into Sean and held off Garry Stead for another 5-1.
Ronnie Correy seemed to make his usual excellent gate in heat 13 but for once things didn't go according to plan on the first corner as Cunningham and Harrison slipped past on either side. Ronnie quickly raced round Cunningham but couldn't reach Harrison. Matthew trailed to give Stoke an advantage.
After this success Stoke decided to give Harrison a TS ride, a rare event at Armadale for anyone other than Shane Parker.
Sean Stoddart again went ahead, but a curiously unsteady Moller was passed round the outside by Harrison, now enjoying his best meeting of the season. Just as well Sean was doing his job right.
All eyes were on William with his maximum on the line for heat 15, and there were no mistakes as Ronnie raced away followed by William. A 5-1 and a superb paid 18 for Lawson.
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Bathgate Road
Armadale
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