Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits

The customary huge win over Berwick didn't materialise as the Bandits turned in a competitive performance.

This was largely due to their two newest overseas signings, Stan Burza and Andreas Bergstrom, who both showed themselves to be good Armadale men.

On the Monarchs' side, Henrik put all the discussions about the track to one side and gated like a rocket for a 17-point score. William started well, as did Derek, Matthew was in the thick of things and Theo had some bike problems.

Burza started off with a fast gate and a reasonably steady ride to hold off Theo's challenge.

Danny Warwick fell on the first bend of heat 2, and Craig Branney held off Derek's challenge. On Berwick's PT visit the first two heats were both home 5-1's, so Bandits were already 4 points better off.

Henrik's fast gate gave him heat 3 with Bergstrom splitting the Monarchs and looking good.

There was no sign in heat 4 that Michal Makovsky was any nearer mastering Armadale as Monarchs scored an easy 5-1, and with Moller beating Burza in the next we were easing ahead.

Derek Sneddon made the start in heat 6 and most expected Theo to pass Makovsky for another maximum, until it became clear that Theo's bike was giving him problems. It finally gave up the ghost.

Sean was at the back in heat 7 and we were just 8 points up.

Derek took a huge nudge from Branney at the first bend of heat 8 and came down. In the rerun he found himself passed by both Bandits and it was later revealed that his clutch was giving problems after the tumble.

At last we had a couple of untroubled heats as Matthew and Henrick (heat 9) and Theo with rider replacement William (heat 10) took a total of ten.

Burza was then out as a TR, and he rode well again to head William with Branney getting the better of the struggling Sneddon again. 2-7!

We had a fine ride from Matthew in heat 12, taking Smethills from the back round the outside on the pits bend. That was a 4-2 but we quickly lost one in heat 13.

Burza was really enjoying himself now and he won this one with Makovsky holding off Lawson.

Berwick were 9 down so still in a TR position! Bergstrom got the black-and-white but it was Henrik (four wins so far) who gated. Sean suddenly tried an extravagant inside burst on the pits turn, but spun and brought Branney down as well.

In the rerun Bergstrom gated to give Henrik his first defeat, and we had lost another 7-2!

Just six up now, but Henrik and William made amends in the last heat with an easy 5-1. So we won by ten, and Berwick were pretty happy with their performance.