Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits

A 3-point gap after 12 heats was clear evidence that the Scotwaste Monarchs did not find this an easy match, though they eventually secured the full three points.

The problems they encountered in getting there were largely of their own making, though without doubt Berwick performed better than they have for some time at Armadale.

Monarchs had reason to be grateful to Ryan Fisher and Matthew Wethers in particular as they stood firm to ensure victory while there were problems elsewhere in the side. The captain?s third place in heat 1, narrowly beaten by Adrian Rymel, was the only point dropped by either.

Fisher had the first of his six wins in that opener, and Wethers came very close to passing Rymel several times. The race had been initially stopped for a flier by Marcin Rempala in his first Armadale heat.

That 4-2 was wiped out and overhauled by Berwick?s maximum in the reserve race. Rajkowski won easily and Mudgway also had little difficulty holding off the weak challenges of first Bugeja and then Lawson. William of course should be a star reserve but not if his equipment is not capable of doing the job.

Katajisto and Wethers led comfortably in heat 3 when Paul Clews lost control and fell on the second lap. The stupid rulebook insists on a rerun, so Makovsky gained a second chance he hadn?t earned, and went ahead on lap one out of the second bend. Wethers passed easily but as Katajisto was doing likewise, he went too wide and collected Makovsky?s front wheel.

Kalle bounced down the straight and on to the centre green, and was excluded. Wethers easily won the rerun but we were still losing!

Andrew Tully cut inside the Bandits off the second corner to win heat 4 but again William Lawson trailed badly.

Heat 5 was excellent, with Wethers leading all the way, Rymel at the back this time and Rempala in second and trying to block Katajisto.

This time Kalle got it right with an excellent late outside pass.

Now we were in front but there were more problems in heat 6. Kalle was given very little extra time even though he was taking two on the trot, and he missed the time limit. Going off 15 metres he was quickly up on Mudgway and went for an inside pass on the pits bend of lap two. The Kiwi came down and Kalle was out.

Observers from the covered side say that this was a bad decision, and Kalle certainly had his say, but it is so difficult for a referee to tell what has happened on the third bend.

Fisher easily won the rerun but more points had been shed.

Tully looked good again in heat 7, but Bugeja was nowhere near the Bandits? pair.

Fisher was our rider replacement in heat 8 and led from the start, but this time it looked like there might be some support from Lawson. He dived past Rajkowski ? then stopped!

At last we got a heat right and took a long overdue 5-1 in heat 9. Berwick were plugging away but in reality Clews, Complin and Makovsky were disappointing, and we should have been on easy street by now.

Tully took the rider replacement ride in heat 10 but found himself blocked by Makovsky on the first corner. Thereafter his race-long chase was unproductive as the Czech covered the inside line, and again Fisher?s win only brought a shared heat.

Andrew again missed the start in heat 10 and this time, the Bandits opening pair of Rymel and Rempala rode perfectly to hold him out and close that gap to 3 points again. Berwick were realistically looking at a point at least!

Heat 12 was virtual mayhem. Lawson came out on Wethers? bike and that was a significant move.

Rajkowski baulked Clews off the second corner which allowed Katajisto and Lawson to rip past and press the Raj. Kalle took up the chase and seemed to have a good chance to pass on the outside, only for Rajkowski to ride a diagonal bend and give him nowhere to go.

Kalle came down, but it was the chance Lawson needed to race to the front for the win.

Might the Raj have been blamed for the faller? Yes he might. But at least William (and Matthew?s bike) saved the day.

We had Fisher and Tully in heat 13 and this time, all was well as they eased clear for a comfortable 5-1.

Matthew did the needful with a win in heat 14 to clinch the match but Lawson had to return to his own bike, and although briefly in third, he failed to score again.

Monarchs needed a shared race in heat 15 to take all the points, and Berwick?s choice of Makovsky and Complin seemed slightly strange. Not so daft maybe though, as they made the gate. Complin and Fisher bumped going to the first turn, and Fisher fell into the fence.

There was a case for saying that Fisher came across and was to blame for the bump but this time, he got the benefit of the doubt. Makes up for all the times he didn?t.

In the rerun we took a 5-1 and suddenly it all looked comfortable with an 11-point win. It had not been comfortable at all.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits

This amazing Monarchs side should receive a fantastic reception from their fans tonight (7.30) as they return home to face the Berwick Bandits after pulling off another two seemingly impossible away wins in their push towards a third Premier League title in eight years.

It was the Bandits who ambushed Monarchs on a distinctly 'off' night last Saturday at Shielfield and prevented Edinburgh going into this match with a 100% record. How different it might have been if it hadn't rained last Friday and Monarchs had got rid of the gremlins then.

Berwick teams have seldom been known to adapt well to the Armadale track and on their last visit to Armadale in April Monarchs won by FORTY points. But the Bandits are at their strongest just now with a spate of injuries behind them and a sprinkling of new faces since that nightmare.

Flyin' Ryan Fisher will be going all out for one of the maximum scores that have often unluckily eluded him in a season when he has silenced anyone who ever doubted he was truly deserving of a No.1 spot. He has a new maturity to add to his armoury of speed, nerve and sheer entertainment.

His opposite number is Berwick fans' favourite, Adrian Rymel, the Czech Republic rider who is the current Argentine Champion. He also enjoyed a highly successful season with Workington last year but is not particularly renowned as a lover of the tighter turns of the Scotwaste Arena.

Most Monarchs fans get their first view of Berwick's brand new signing at No.2, Marcin Rempala, who recorded two heat wins in his first match for the Bandits last Saturday. Marcin is a 25-year-old Polish rider making his second appearance in the UK, after an unsuccessful 2007 season with Ipswich.

However, he should be easily capable of a seven-point average in the Premier League (twice his Elite League mark) but he will have to quickly adapt to a different shape of track if he is to get anywhere near whoever he faces as rider replacement for Kevin Wolbert at No.2

The home side will be hoping to see Kalle Katajisto back to somewhere near his brilliant best ? and he will need to be if he is to eclipse Paul Clews at No.3. The experienced Coventry born 'Clewsey' is an enormously popular rider in part due to his highly entertaining and never-say-die style.

Matthew Wethers faces another handful at No.4 in footballer, grass-tracker, flat-tracker and accomplished speedway rider, Lee Complin. This Yorkshireman has had a lengthy spells out of the sport, frequently due to serious injury, but at his best he is one of the most exciting riders in the league.

Andrew Tully will be aiming for a consistent evening's scoring, something which has been eluding him at times at home this year. He faces Mr Berwick Speedway, Michal Makovsky, at No.5 who is the highest scorer in Bandits' history but is not one who relishes his visits to Armadale.

Young New Zealander Jade Mudgway at No.6 outscored new Monarchs reserve Arlo Bugeja at Berwick, but Matthew's Australian pal 'Budgie' will be looking to reverse that situation tonight. Having shown early promise, a run of decent scores could get his speedway career back on track.

Berwick's No.7 should get a good reception because it's Monarchs' 2009 favourite, Michal Makovsky who returns to the track where he enjoyed so much success. But he will have his work cut out against the 'Auchterarder Express', William Lawson who should be the strongest reserve in the Premier League.

Monarchs will be expected to more than reverse the painful 12-point defeat they suffered at the hands of the Bandits last Saturday. However, having done the hard work away from home, they must stay healthy and also do the 'easy' work at home without any slip-ups.

There's a good spread of exciting and unpredictable racers on both sides which should ensure that this match is always entertaining. Monarchs have the chance to show the home fans why they are so devastating on their travels - provided that they don't take their foot off the pedal this week!

Probable line-ups:

BERWICK A & J SCOTT LTD BANDITS: Adrian Rymel, Marcin Rempala, Paul Clews, Lee Complin, Michal Makovsky, Jade Mudgway, Michal Rajkowski.

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, rider replacement for Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Arlo Bugeja, William Lawson.