Birmingham Brummies
Jason Lyons 12+1 (5)
Edinburgh Monarchs
Ryan Fisher 17 (6)
Premier Trophy
41
52
Sunday 28th September 2008
Perry Barr Stadium
Birmingham Brummies
41
1. Tomasz Piszcz 0 2 3 6 0 11 0
2. Kyle Legault r/r 0 0
3. Jason Lyons 3 2 3 2* 2 12 1
4. James Birkinshaw 0 1* 1 1
5. Craig Watson 2 2 2 3 2 1* 12 1
6. Jay Herne 0 0 0 0 0 0
7. Ben Taylor 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 5 0
Edinburgh Monarchs
52
1. William Lawson 3 1* 3 1* 1 0 9 2
2. Derek Sneddon 1 0 2 2 2 7 0
3. Thomas H Jonasson r/r 0 0
4. Andrew Tully 2 1 1* 0 2* 6 2
5. Ryan Fisher 3 3 3 2 3 3 17 0
6. Matthew Wethers 3 1* 1 5 1
7. Aaron Summers 2* 1 1 1* 3 8 2
Heat 1
Time: 59.1
1. Tomasz Piszcz  
0
2. Kyle Legault r/r  
5. Craig Watson
2
1. William Lawson  
3
2. Derek Sneddon  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
2
Away
4
4
Heat 2
Time: 60.3
6. Jay Herne  
0
7. Ben Taylor  
1
6. Matthew Wethers  
3
7. Aaron Summers  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
1
3
Away
5
9
Heat 3
Time: 58.4
3. Jason Lyons  
3
4. James Birkinshaw  
0
3. Thomas H Jonasson r/r  
1. William Lawson
1
4. Andrew Tully  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
6
Away
3
12
Heat 4
Time: 59.1
5. Craig Watson  
2
7. Ben Taylor  
0
5. Ryan Fisher  
3
7. Aaron Summers  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
8
Away
4
16
Heat 5
Time: 58.1
3. Jason Lyons  
2
4. James Birkinshaw  
1
1. William Lawson  
3
2. Derek Sneddon  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
11
Away
3
19
Heat 6
Time: 59.4
1. Tomasz Piszcz  
2
2. Kyle Legault r/r  
6. Jay Herne
0
5. Ryan Fisher  
3
6. Matthew Wethers  
7. Aaron Summers
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
13
Away
4
23
Heat 7
Time: 59.3
5. Craig Watson  
2
6. Jay Herne  
7. Ben Taylor
0
3. Thomas H Jonasson r/r  
5. Ryan Fisher
3
4. Andrew Tully  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
15
Away
4
27
Heat 8
Time: 59.6
2. Kyle Legault r/r  
1. Tomasz Piszcz
6
7. Ben Taylor  
6. Jay Herne
0
2. Derek Sneddon  
2
7. Aaron Summers  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
6
21
Away
3
30
Heat 9
Time: 59.4
3. Jason Lyons  
3
4. James Birkinshaw  
7. Ben Taylor
0
5. Ryan Fisher  
2
6. Matthew Wethers  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
24
Away
3
33
Heat 10
Time: 60.2
1. Tomasz Piszcz  
3
2. Kyle Legault r/r  
6. Jay Herne
0
3. Thomas H Jonasson r/r  
2. Derek Sneddon
2
4. Andrew Tully  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
27
Away
3
36
Heat 11
Time: 60.2
5. Craig Watson  
3
6. Jay Herne  
7. Ben Taylor
0
1. William Lawson  
1
2. Derek Sneddon  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
30
Away
3
39
Heat 12
Time: 60.5
3. Jason Lyons  
2
7. Ben Taylor  
3
3. Thomas H Jonasson r/r  
4. Andrew Tully
0
6. Matthew Wethers  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
35
Away
1
40
Heat 13
Time: 59.9
1. Tomasz Piszcz  
0
5. Craig Watson  
2
1. William Lawson  
1
5. Ryan Fisher  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
37
Away
4
44
Heat 14
Time: 61.3
4. James Birkinshaw  
7. Ben Taylor
1
6. Jay Herne  
0
4. Andrew Tully  
2
7. Aaron Summers  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
1
38
Away
5
49
Heat 15
Time: 60.2
5. Craig Watson  
1
3. Jason Lyons  
2
1. William Lawson  
0
5. Ryan Fisher  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
41
Away
3
52

With a 41-point lead we were always bankers to take the trophy, but the team wanted to do it in style for the big travelling support.

That they did, ripping in to the Brummies right from the off and building up a 12-point lead by heat 7. The closest things got was after a Birmingham 5-1 in heat 12, when the excellent Jason Lyons helped young Ben Taylor home for a 5-1 and we were only 5 points up.

Ryan Fisher was our strong man with perhaps his best display yet for us ? he gated in every heat except one and never put a foot wrong, though he did lose heat 9 to a brilliant outside pass on the final bend to that consummate speedway artist Lyons.

Ryan gained his revenge over the home captain in another brilliant final heat.

The signs were good right from the start when William swept round the first corner and went past Craig Watson down the back straight as if he was standing still. Derek got in to third after Piszcz had gone wide on the first turn, and we had taken an advantage against a strong opening pair.

Aaron Summers had also been struggling over the weekend but with Matthew leading heat 2, Aaron weaved his way past the opposition to set up a comfortable 5-1.

Andrew Tully made a great effort in heat 3, leading Lyons for a couple of laps and withstanding one dive by Jason, though eventually he did get through.

Ryan headed Craig Watson in heat 4 and with Aaron third, we were 8 up and only needed finishers to win the Trophy. Obviously, we were now looking for the win as well.

William and Derek outgated Jason Lyons in heat 5 and Derek held off Jason for long enough for William to get clear and win fairly easily. Derek was just too cautious on the final lap and was caught by Birkinshaw.

There was a domino first corner in heat 6 as Fisher and Piszcz contested the inside line. Everyone moved out and it was Matthew Wethers and the very unlucky James Birkinshaw who took the worst of it. Birko sadly was off to hospital in the ambulance while Matthew managed to battle on.

Fisher won again in the rerun and we took a 4-2. Keeping the pressure on, it was Fisher as r/r in heat 7 and another 4-2 as he held off Watson. The score was now 15-27 and obviously a TR had to be coming.

Piszcz got the job in heat 8 and won easily, but we took the minor placings.

Heat 9 was the first classic with Fisher leading all the way and holding off everything Lyons could throw at him, until Jason squeezed by on the outside round the last corner.

Piszcz won heat 10 and Watson heat 11 as the Brummie heat leaders showed their mettle, but they didn?t have the backup with Birko out of the match.

Until heat 12 that is! Suddenly Ben Taylor made a start, and Jason Lyons slotted in behind him as they got the better of Matthew and Andrew, looking a bit weary after their weekend knocks. So the score was now 35-40 with a tough heat 13 coming up.

Watson led but this time Fisher showed superb passing ability with a brilliant third corner dive, and with William in third we virtually wrapped things up.

There was still time for a fine team ride from fast gating Aaron (really!) and the unselfish Andrew Tully who sat inside him.

And a great match finished with a great race, this time Fisher holding on by inches to pip Lyons. All great entertainment followed by a well conducted presentation, a memorable night.

There?s silverware on offer this week as the Scotwaste Monarchs go head to head with the Birmingham Brummies in a bid for Premier Trophy glory.

Monarchs have already won at Perry Barr in the Premier League and, coupled with an outstanding victory over title challengers Workington Comets at sunny Armadale last night (even Kelvin Tatum MBE enjoyed that one!), they will enter these two fixtures full of confidence.

The Brummies, on the other hand, appear to be merrily floating from one crisis to another. As if their injury hit start to the season wasn?t bad enough, the fans then voiced their disapproval when Promoter Graham Drury rang the changes in an attempt to add some much needed middle order strength!

The main bone of contention would appear to be the fact ?star reserve? James Birkinshaw was one of those chopped. He was certainly a fans? favourite and indeed probably the most impressive home man on show when we were last there. He was joined on the dole queue by Lee Smart (now at struggling Mildenhall) and Jack Hargreaves, both having failed to recapture their early season form after attempted injury comebacks.

The new chapter in the Brummies? history began last Wednesday with a home defeat to the Stoke Potters, so it?s fair to say they?ll be hoping for better fortunes this week. If they?re to have any chance of a decent result, key man Tomasz Piszcz must improve on his 2 point debut. I for one certainly don?t expect him to score so lowly!

Mr Piszcz is joined by ex-Glasgow man James Cockle, who had a brief spell with Mildenhall at the beginning of the year, and young Australian Jay Herne, who guested for Somerset in a KO Cup fixture up our way last season. He failed to score from 3 outings in the difficult number 2 berth but showed he was rather adept at lightning starts.

The remaining members of the home side are Jason Lyons, Craig Watson, Kyle Legault and Jack Roberts. Lyons is a well respected Aussie who is practically guaranteed double figures on any track in the League. Unfortunately, countryman Craig Watson seems to be struggling somewhat since two major knocks during the last few seasons.

Both Legault and Roberts have been pretty decent guests in Monarchs? colours last year. In fact, Canadian ?Lego? managed a 21 point full house at Stoke! Meanwhile, young Jack will be hoping he avoids a repeat of is recent trip over the top of the Armadale safety fence during Friday?s second leg!

As far as the Scotwaste Monarchs are concerned, I would guess the primary aim of Wednesday evening?s meeting is to keep the scores as tight as possible. Obviously a victory would be most appreciated but you can?t always have everything!

Top man William Lawson is still sidelined so Rye House stalwart Chris Neath covers his absence in the first leg. Neath has had two visits to Perry Barr already this season and enjoyed significant success so here?s hoping he makes it three out of three! At the time of writing, there is no confirmation as to who will fill the void on Friday.

A mark of the success being enjoyed by Monarchs this year is the fact young Swede Thomas H Jonasson has been listed as a meeting reserve for this weekend?s Grand Prix. This means that, although he will be available tomorrow, rider replacement will be pressed into operation for the return leg. However, as he?s currently second in the averages, every one of his teammates is entitled to an extra outing.

Elsewhere, we should be unchanged for both meetings (famous last words!). I guess in an ideal world, we?d like a repeat of the results from earlier in the season. Nevertheless, one thing I hope we don?t see more of is the God awful weather! The five Premier League points collected by the Monarchs against this week?s opponents were gained in somewhat ?heavy? conditions and it would be such a shame if the Premier Trophy were to be decided by who could paddle their boat the fastest.

Whatever happens, the Monarchs appear to be riding like a team on a mission at the moment and it seems likely only a herculean effort will halt their charge for honours.

As always, may the best team win...

Line-ups:

Wednesday at Perry Barr:

Brummies: Tomasz Piszcz, Jack Roberts, Jason Lyons, Kyle Legault, Craig Watson, James Cockle, Jay Herne.

Monarchs: Chris Neath, Derek Sneddon, Thomas H Jonasson, Matthew Wethers, Ryan Fisher, Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers.

Friday at the Scotwaste Arena (to be confirmed):

Monarchs: guest for William Lawson, Derek Sneddon, rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Matthew Wethers, Ryan Fisher, Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers.

Brummies: Tomasz Piszcz, Jack Roberts, Jason Lyons, Kyle Legault, Craig Watson, James Cockle, Jay Herne.