ALL TO PLAY FOR

NEWS Friday 24th October 2014, 10:06pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The first leg of the Premier League Championship is now over and thee Scotwaste Monarchs face a deficit of twelve points after going down to Somerset by 54 to 42.

It was a wonderful battling performance by the Scotwaste Monarchs who were down and seemingly out being seventeen points down at heat 10 and already having used Sam in a successful tactical ride in heat 6.

Heat 11 produced another successful tactical ride from Craig Cook and Aaron Fox rode the race of his life to initially lead Charles Wright and then hold on for second. Max Fricke was just pipped on the run to the line. Heat 13 produced a vital 5-1 from Craig and Sam. It looked like we would share heat 14 but Max couldn't hold off a determined challenge from Pontus Aspgren.

So it came to heat 15. Fourteen points down and the two stars of the evening Craig and Sam up against a surprising Rebels duo of Aspgren and Wright. From the gate it was Craig but Sam was pushed to the back by the Rebels. Lap by lap Sam built up speed and although he passed Aspgren he couldn't catch top Rebel of the Night Charles Wright.

Craig Cook dropped his only points in heat 5 when he was pushed wide and into the fence by Charles Wright.

And so the teams reconvene at Armadale on Saturday night and judging by the mood in the Monarchs camp at the end of Friday's match it's going to be a hard night for the Rebels.