FINE WIN IN A SCUNNY THRILLER

NEWS Monday 26th May 2008, 11:40pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

There was a big Edinburgh travelling support at Scunthorpe on the English Bank Holiday, and no-one was disappointed as we emerged from a really tight match to hit the Scorpions hard over the last few heats for a 53-39 win.

This does not reflect what a tough match it was. In the early stages the track was quite heavy and one or two of our riders took a race or two to settle. Just as well that Andrew was again sensational, and Ryan had his best match for a while. They did most to keep us in the match (the first nine heats were all 3-3's) till the others found their form.

The break in the scoring came through Ryan and Andrew in a magnificent heat 10. They were outgated by Moore and Wilkinson but Andrew swooped round the outside line which he used so brilliantly, and Ryan punched his way through on the inside.

That really started something, and William gated in heat 11 while Thomas powered past Richard Hall for another 5-1.

Tully topped even his previous efforts to come from third at one point to win heat 12, passing Magnus Karlsson on the final bend, and a 5-1 in heat 13 virtually clinched the win.

Unlucky Andrew, on his 21st birthday, missed a second successive maximum when he had a puncture in heat 14, a race he didn't really need to be in.

We finished with a 5-1 and once again our team showed up as a bunch of talented fighters. It was far from easy which made it a memorable meeting.

Full Result Details