Title Partner
In spite of finishing the match with four riders, Newcastle managed to take the bonus point from Monarchs, aided by six additional TR points.
There were plus points for Monarchs in the improved form of William Lawson and Daniele Tessari, plus double figures from Matthew Wethers and Theo Pijper, but neither Henrik Moller nor Derek Sneddon was anywhere near their best.
We were well ahead on aggregate twice in the match, but Newcastle pulled it back, first with TRs in heats 7 and 8 (which they won 15-3 on aggregate), and then by taking the last two heats by 9-3 on aggregate. As has been the norm this season, Monarchs failed to complete the job.
No-one could complain about either the racing or the drama though.
Theo started the match off with another big win and a track record ride - the first man under 55 seconds. Daniele took a good third ahead of Robertson and Monarchs were off to a good start.
We were certainly hoping for a good start at reserve, but that didn't happen as Derek Sneddon floundered dismally at the back, unable to capitalise on several glaring mistakes by Adam McKinna. Sean Stoddart took a second place and the scores were level.
Josef Franc led heat 3 but Matthew rode hard into the pits bend and rounded him in style. Christian Henry made a bad start and was well behind, though Henrik also struggled.
Derek made a start in heat 4 and drifted across the first corner. Fortunately William squeezed through to the front, and Derek's move blocked James Grieves. He continued holding him off for the rest of the heat and we were six up.
Henrik seemed to make the first bend in heat 5 but he gave way under pressure from George Stancl. George, though, shed a chain on lap two and we took a lucky 5-1.
Heat 6 saw first bend bunching with Grieves and McKinna down. The yougtsre was eventually ruled out of the match with bruised ribs. The rerun was a great heat, with Theo racing clear and Daniele bursting past Grieves and then Robertson in his best Armadale ride yet. We were now 25-11 ahead!
It didn't last. Josef Franc took a TR and gated, this time with Christian Henry behind him. This was also an excellent heat and William rode very well to get the better of Henry, but it was still a 2-7.
Then the rider replacement for Hauzinger paid off for Newcastle, who had Henry in the next one as well, riding as a TR. Robertson backed him up to a 1-8 and suddenly it was 28-26.
So we had to start building a lead again. Stancl was now out of the match having aggravated his injury of the previous weekend, and we should certainly have been capable from that point of taking the bonus.
The only Diamond in heat 9, Grieves, won the heat with a bit to spare from Matthew with Henrik again well back.
Theo dominated Heat 10, passing both Henry and Franc, and it looked like a shared heat till Henry fell on the pits bend.
Newcastle used no. 8 Johnson in heat 11 along with Robertson replacing Stancl, and they managed to take 2 points as Robertson passed Stoddart.
Matthew won heat 12 from Henry, again the only Diamond, and the teams were now level on aggregate.
William Lawson took the lead in heat 13 round the outside, and though Grieves held second for a while, Theo always had the upper hand and moved smoothly through.
12 points up, but heat 14 looked ominous. Sure enough Henrik was soon at the back again, and Sean's efforts to stay second were doomed as he stuck to his usual inside line. Robertson passed him and sent us into heat 15 level on aggregate.
We had Theo and William against Josef Franc and James Grieves. We won the toss but didn't make the starts. Franc made the gate as he had in all his rides, but it seemed William would again pass round the outside. He didn't, and Theo couldn't subdue Grieves either. A disappointing 2-4 and the bonus was lost.
HALMOND ENGINEERING MONARCH OF THE MATCH: William Lawson.
"In the preview for this match which was due to be raced on 18 August I wrote:
"When it comes to inconsistency the sides are well matched. Both have had their moments but both have also had some dreadful matches. Newcastle looked likely to be one of the sides challenging near the top of the league this season once they had assembled the current side but it hasn't happened for them.
"The main reason is the up and down form of their three heat leaders - George Stancl, James Grieves and Josef Franc. Each has had excellent matches round Armadale and there is no doubt that if they all arrived with their 'A' games we would be in big trouble. It rarely happens though and currently Christian Henry is as big a hitter in the side as the more vaunted top three.
"At reserve the Diamonds have Jaimie Robertson and Adam McKinna neither of whom are strangers at Armadale. It will be important that we outscore this pair and Sean Stoddart will be looking to provide good support to Derek Sneddon to achieve that."
That's still all valid for Friday's match but now there is the added spice of Newcastle desperately needing the points for qualification for the play-offs and the Monarchs desperately needing the points to steer clear of the bottom spot in the league table.
I raised doubts whether Manuel Hauzinger would at last be paying us a visit for the August fixture; now we know that he will not be here this time either. He has been sacked by Newcastle on the grounds that he is withholding his services and the Diamonds have been allowed the Rider Replacement (R/R) facility to cover his rides. Only Christian Henry and the two reserves are eligible to do so although Newcastle will be nominating a number 8 - Ashley Jones - who can also take R/R rides.
Newcastle arrive on the back of two wildly different results - a 69-21 defeat at Rye House and a 52-40 win at home against the Isle of Wight. They have had injuries to Christian Henry and George Stancl to cope with but both should be fit for this match. The Monarchs' confidence must have been boosted by beating Stoke at home last week then taking the bonus point in a good effort at Stoke but we still don't seem to be firing on all cylinders.
It's time all the riders hit it off together. To beat Newcastle we have to stop their heat leaders dominating the race winner stakes while taking full advantage of a weak looking tail. Both teams should be well-fired up for this meeting and there may not be too much in it at the finish. Newcastle will need to improve on some recent away performances in recent matches or the feeling that Armadale is a good track for them might not be enough for the points. They will have to do more than just turn up to have any hope of success.
At home Theo is a match for any rider in the league and a big contribution from him again will dull the Diamonds cutting edge. William Lawson has great races and not-so-great ones. If he gates a bit more consistently he, too, is more than capable. There will be no lack of effort from Matthew and Henrik. We need them to provide a big points back-up which brings us to Daniele. Last week he was so unlucky not to score more than he did but he does seem to be getting to grips better with Armadale. A score similar to those he managed at Stoke and Glasgow would do just fine.
We have grounds for optimism. If all goes well mechanically and spirit and determination are in evidence there is no reason why we should not prevail with the bonus point as the icing on the cake.
© Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway 2024
Bathgate Road
Armadale
EH48 2PD
