Edinburgh Monarchs v Rye House Rockets

Rye House always provide us with tough opposition at Armadale, and that proved to be the case once more in a 50-42 victory.

Edinburgh?s scorechart led from the top while the Rockets? main scoring came from the bottom. Our opening pair outscored theirs by 29-7 but at the other end our reserves were walloped 18-3!

You could also call it a Tale of Two Guests. We got in first and had Jason Lyons booked before Robert Mear picked up his injury, which sent the Rockets off to call in Mark Lemon. Basically we won the match because of this.

The importance of the choices was apparent as early as heat 1. Mark Lemon shot off gate four but Wethers worked his way through on the inside in the first couple of laps. Jason Lyons was pressing too and he also passed Lemon late in the heat.

Silver and Bowen gated in heat 2 with Sean Stoddart falling on the first corner. Aaron Summers moved through the pack and got his nose in front, but Silver in his first Armadale ride came back on the outside to establish a winning advantage.

Rockets won another heat in the next one, and it looked as though Bowen and Allen would take 5 points until Andrew Tully found a good inside line off the last bend to snatch second away from Allen. Bowen was in this heat because Chris Neath broke the teapes.

That levelled the scores and a close match was certainly in prospect. Wethers showed his excellent form by winning heat 4 in which Sundstrom also made his Armadale debut in good style. Silver beat Stoddart again and clearly Sean was toiling against a team with no weak links.

After a bad first ride, Rajkowski swept to the front from gate 4 to win heat 5, and he was joined later by Andrew Tully who slipped inside Lemon. Wethers and Lyons took a second 5-1 from heat 6 and now Monarchs were 8 ahead.

The next three heats were shared. Sundstrom won heat 7 with Neath again failing to get on the scoresheet, and while Wethers won heat 8, Summers stopped on the first bend. Tully won heat 9 after sweeping to the front from gate 4, in the fastest time of the night, but inconsistent Rajkowski was tailed off again.

The home team were not at their best, but the opening pair was, and again Wethers and Lyons took 5 from heat 10, though this time Neath did mount a challenge.

Lyons was in heat 11 as rider replacement, with Stoddart taking his third ride and Lemon on a TR. Lyons smoothly glided home again to limit the TR to 4 points, and Stoddart was at least on the pace though again beaten by Silver.

The gap came down to 8 as Neath finally made a start to head Tully, with Summers disappointing at the back even though he had been ahead of Bowen at one point.

Rockets were definitely in with a chance of a point. Rajkowski was the r/r in heat 13 and what would he do this time? He likes gate 4 and off he went, leading Sundstrom all the way. Lyons was at the back on the first lap but rounded Lemon and put in a late challenge to the Swede in an entertaining ride.

Had he passed him of course we could have been hit by another TR. Heat 14 was bad enough as we saw the ?other? Rajkowski and the continuation of Summers? disappointing night. Silver and Neath had no problems taking a 5-1.

We were now just 6 up, ensuring a win but requiring a heat advantage from the last race to take all three points. Matthew Wethers, who knows all about last heat deciders against Rockets, led from the gate in spite of a strong chase by Neath, and Lyons comfortably made sure of the third ahead of Sundstrom.

HERMISTON MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Matthew Wethers.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Rye House Rockets

It?s a return to Premier League action at sunny Armadale this week as the Scotwaste Monarchs go head to head with the Rye House Rockets.

The Rockets are one of the most powerful visitors to the Scotwaste Arena over the years, although defeat in this fixture would mean it was 3 years since their last success.

That victory came when new Glasgow signing Russell Harrison walked out amid heavy track conditions. Since then, the Monarchs have restored some pride and won the last 2, with an enthralling 2008 clash ending 47-46 in our favour.

Our Hertfordshire chums are well known for their youth policy and, yet again, there is a very young backbone in their 2009 ranks. It?s fair to say the likes of Robert Mear, Joe Haines and Linus Sundstrom have a huge future in the sport while Luke Bowen can be a potent reserve on his day. Sadly, both Mear and Haines will be missing through injury so best of luck to them for a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Tommy Allen and Chris Neath probably won?t appreciate being regarded as ?older? but it feels as though they?ve been around far longer than the wee laddies! Allen famously defeated Peter Carr during his sides 2004 triumph, while Neath has been probably one of the best ever visitors to West Lothian over the years. It?s more than likely he?ll rack up yet another double figure score in this one.

The final Rocket is none other than Andrew ?son of the Promoter? Silver. A true Legend during the days of the old National League, he?s decided to make a full time comeback to the sport after what seems like an eternity doing the gardening and sitting with his feet up watching Coronation Street. In fact, his reappearance makes me feel rather ancient because I can still well remember my sister and her friend chatting with him and posing for photos in the Powderhall bar!

As mentioned earlier, Rye House are usually tough opponents so a stern test awaits. And it won?t be made any easier by the fact both Ryan Fisher and Thomas H Jonasson are due in Italy for the Grand Prix qualifier! Birmingham stalwart Jason Lyons and rider replacement cover the absentees on this occasion with every Monarch eligible to take an extra outing.

Missing the top 2 means all the remaining team members will have to be on form. Thankfully, team captain Matthew Wethers appears to be running into some decent scores. Indeed, he dropped only one point to an opponent during Wednesday night?s defeat at Somerset.

Elsewhere, Andrew Tully has been excellent value at his home circuit (except when erratic Swedes get in his way!) and Michal Rajkowski had easily his best Armadale meeting last Friday against Glasgow. You don?t beat the likes of Shane Parker and Travis McGowan if you?re not doing something right!

At the bottom end, Aaron Summers looks like he?s relishing his new (albeit familiar!) role at number 6. Every good side needs a strong reserve and Aaron is certainly that. Meanwhile, Sean Stoddart will also be looking to continue his steady scoring run at the Scotwaste Arena, where he quietly chips in with some very useful points.

Following the t-shirt weather of last Friday, I?m probably being a little over ambitious in hoping for more of the same this week. However, don?t get too despondent if we encounter one or two grey clouds and a gentle breeze... after all, I?m sure you wouldn?t really want to see yours truly in shorts!

As always, may the best team win...

Line-ups:

Monarchs: Jason Lyons, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Michal Rajkowski, rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Aaron Summers, Sean Stoddart.

Rockets: Mark Lemon, Tommy Allen, Chris Neath, rider replacement for Joe Haines, Linus Sundstrom, Luke Bowen, Andrew Silver.