Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears

After leading all the way, Monarchs dipped out in the end to a 2-point defeat by Redcar.

In such a short 4-team section, a home defeat will normally rule out any chance of qualifying ? only a couple of away wins would put it right. There were few signs last night that this might be on the cards.

And yet we started quite convincingly. Ronnie Correy dominated the start and first corner of heat race and beat Havelock fairly easily, with Henrik Moller in third a fair bit back.

For the second week Derek Sneddon did everything right in heat 2, and although Hodgson was briefly in second, Andrew Tully smoothly moved past him to complete the 5-1.

James Grieves shot from the gate and looked his old impressive self as he won heat 3 from Lawson, and although Daniele Tessari was briefly in third, Chris Kerr got the better of him to give the Bears an advantage.

This was reversed in the following race with Matthew winning, and Andrew Tully well in touch in third. Matt Tresarrieu looked fast and spectacular in second place.

At 15-9 we were going along comfortably, but the problems started in the next race. William was chasing Havvy quite impressively when he stopped suddenly on the pits bend of lap three. That turned a 3-3 to a 2-4, 18-12 to 17-13.

Ronnie dominated heat 6 ahead of Tressarieu though Henrik was fairly easily beaten by the French rider. Six up again.

Problems again in the next heat ? it was rerun after Derek came down at the first turn, and Matthew re-emerged on an Andrew Tully bike. It didn?t suit him and he trailed in well at the back, while Chris Kerr passed Derek to join Grieves for the 5-1.

Henrik won heat 8, not all that convincingly, from Giffard with Tully again third. However the bike problems for Lawson and Wethers meant that we were probably four points down on what we should have scored.

Tresarrieu got out in front in heat 9 and was never in danger of being caught as Daniele and William chased.

The unbeaten Grieves and Correy clashed in heat 10, and it looked like Grieves got a flier from the gate, holding back and rolling forward. What all riders want to do but shouldn?t be allowed to. Ronnie had to come round his partner before closing the gap, but it was too late.

It looked as though Kerr was going to force his way inside Miller, but he fell as he was coming through, so we shared the heat.

We were still four up and should have stayed that way, but Derek decided to bust a gut trying to pass Havelock in heat 11. He was making a fair first of it, but inevitably fell off and another important point was lost. We were now two ahead.

Again it was a case of chasing hard but not passing as William tried to overcome James Grieves? fast start in heat 12. We were looking ahead now at the three remaining heats, and realising that Ronnie had to take something from the top Bears in heats 13 and 15.

As ever our riders were poorly away as Havelock and Tresarrieu led the way in heat 13. Ronnie chased and pulled off a lovely inside pass on Tressarieu, and Matthew battled to catch the Frenchman as well. On the final turn he tried an outside move and brilliantly grabbed the point by a tyre.

A heat advantage from heat 14 was clearly desirable, but even though Derek made the start, Kerr easily moved past him out of the second bend to win.

Two up going into the last race, it was disappointing for the home fans, though not a great surprise, to see Havelock and Grieves make the start and ride well in combination to gain the win. Ronnie was close but there was no way through.

Ten race wins obviously gave Redcar a chance, but our bike problems and Derek?s fall were key factors as well.

HERMISTON MOTOR COMPANY MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Andrew Tully.