SPRING TROPHY WON AGAIN

NEWS Saturday 4th April 2015, 0:01am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs duly retained the Spring Trophy by 3 points on aggregate after a very enjoyable first team match of the season at Armadale, from which both teams could take plenty of encouragement.

Alex Harkess said “That was a good show. Our top men did what we expected, I was very happy with the reserves and Erik Riss will come good. Once Kevin sorts his gating out we will be a very good side again.”

Monarchs won 51-42 on the night, and by 81-78 on aggregate, with Sam Masters strolling to another 15 point maximum. He hasn’t lost at Armadale after two 2015 meetings and he hasn’t lost to a Glasgow rider this season!

Sam dominated from the gate, but Craig Cook had to pull off some amazing overtakes as he wasn’t gating so well. He passed the impressive Hansen in heats 1 and 13 in thrilling fashion, and in the final race using a different engine he swept past Aaron Summers before hitting trouble on the next bend.

Justin Sedgmen started with a third then reeled off three excellent wins. Kevin Wolbert gated very poorly but looked in good form thereafter, though his loss of a 1-5 in heat 9 gave Tigers back the aggregate lead at that point.

So what about the less experienced riders? There was plenty to be happy about there. Most obviously Rob Branford’s 8+1 was highly encouraging, and that included a 5-1 in heat 8 with Sedgmen plus some exciting overtaking.

Max Clegg scored 2+1 and rode well, though he finished with an exclusion for bringing down Glasgow’s Palovaara. The fact that he was passing the Swede was highly encouraging.

Erik Riss got his first point for the team in heat 5 and looked increasingly steady, reeling off many practise laps in the second half as he adapts his style for UK tracks.

Tigers will justifiably make the point that this was not their full side, and with Lawson, Morris and Sarjeant in harness they will be very formidable indeed. The prospect of two Scottish sides right at the top of the Premier League table is a very realistic one.

There’s plenty to look forward to.

Full Result Details