THE TREBLE IS OURS

After a night which can rarely have been equalled for drama anywhere in Speedway, the Scotwaste Monarchs got what most people would say they deserve out of this season when they won the Premier League with a Playoff Final aggregate total of 96-95 against Somerset.

The 2014 team are thus confirmed as our greatest ever team, having previously landed the Premier Pairs, the League Cup and the Knockout Cup. But what a night of emotional turmoil the Playoff Final proved to be.

In the end we had done well to keep the deficit to 12 points at Somerset. The Rebels really are a tough proposition on their home circuit, and we had powerhouse performances from Cook and Masters to thank. There was a fair degree of optimism in the home camp as the teams lined up tonight.

For eight heats that optimism seemed entirely justified, as we barely put a foot wrong. Seven of the eight heat winners to that point, 5-1s in heats 1, 3, 5 and 6 (three of these featuring key man Justin Sedgmen) and a brilliant effort by Sedgmen again to nullify the first TR in heat 8, with captain Sneddon also scoring an important point in that one.

So we were two up on aggregate, and you know how strong Monarchs are over the closing stages, right?

Wrong. Somerset are not a team to give up, especially when we make errors and give them an opening to get back in.

Max Fricke seemed to make the gate in heat 9 but swung too wide off the second bend, leaving a big opening for ace reserve Starke and Morris to take a 5-1. Thank goodness they didn't use the TR there.

But we put that right when the superb Cook and Sedgmen pair (best we've ever had?) took 5 from Wright and Aspgren. We were in front again.

The Rebels gambled with a TR in heat 11 for the pointless guest Aaron Summers, and for once Sam Masters didn't get it right, missing the start and coming off on the first corner. We lost an 8-1, and if the heads didn't go down in the pits, they certainly did in the crowd.

That loss was compounded by another win for Starke in heat 12, a 2-4, and now we were only 5 up on the night and 7 down on aggregate.

We all knew what we needed to do, we're good at arithmetic. 5-1s in heats 13 and 15 and sharing heat 14. But there was no room for error!

Heat 13 was stopped twice as Morris and Masters clashed and came down. Some thought Morris was at fault but Sam said "Just racing, I would have done the same!" But at the third attempt Sam made a much better start and came round the Rebels to join Craig to successfully take that first 5-1. We're still in it!

Heat 14 was shared though perhaps not in the way we expected. Pontus Aspgren won it in spite of a big effort by Max to catch him, but Aaron Fox scored one of his most crucial points by heading top scorer Starke.

So that was that – 5-1 for the league! Justin Sedgmen was unbeaten but hadn't been out since heat 10, so the Monarchs' management chose the heat 13 5-1 pairing of Cook and Masters, lining up against Morris and Aspgren. The league campaign comes down to the final heat!

Surprisingly Rebels took gates 2 and 4. Craig was away well from the inside, Sam wasn't particularly, but he turned back off bend two to find that Cookie had moved the Rebels over and left a big passageway for him! Sam didn't miss the chance and we were away.

One lap, two laps… but suddenly there was a bike on the track and the heat was stopped. The official announcement was that the race would be awarded because Aspgren had "deliberately laid his bike down and stayed on the track." You don't often hear it put that bluntly and the Swedish rider will perhaps reflect on that in years to come.

But all he had achieved was to make it a little bit easier for us to get the 5-1 – we didn't have to do laps 3 and 4. There was no doubt it was the right decision.

Cook - paid maximum. Sedgmen - paid maximum, Masters and Fricke, double figures and the reserves with 7 vital points between them. And Stevie Worrall, who came up to enjoy the night, had played as big a part in getting us here as anyone.

And so the party begins.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Somerset Rebels

Tonight sees the cliffhanging climax of the 2014 Premier League season when the top two sides, Edinburgh and Somerset, will decide the destination of the League Championship title around the Scotwaste Arena in front of a packed Armadale Stadium.

This is a repeat of last year's Grand Final when on that occasion Somerset triumphed over two hotly contested legs after Somerset had finished first and Monarchs only fourth. This time round Edinburgh have finished the season on top by a clear seven league points.

Both sides have been affected by injuries, Somerset missing their numbers 1 and 2, Oliver Allen and Brady Kurtz while Edinburgh are without their main success story of the season, their number 4, Stevie Worrall. So it's a 6-a-side match with Somerset able to bring in a guest No.1.

And the contest at No.1, like all the others down the line will be crucial to the outcome. Monarchs' magnificent leading rider, Craig Cook will be looking to carry on his fabulous form against 26-year-old Australian, Aaron Summers who spent three years with Monarchs (2007-2009) before moving on to Birmingham, then finally settling at Redcar.

Justin Sedgmen at No.2 for Monarchs will be out to show the Rebels why he has become such a formidable presence and a big fans' favourite around the Scotwaste Arena shale. His score will be a major factor for the Monarchs while Somerset will cover for the injured Brady Kurtz with rider replacement.

Max Fricke is another who will be determined to show his top Armadale form after a tough night at the Oaktree Arena . His opposite number at No.3 is Somerset's equivalent of Stevie Worrall, 26-year-old Charles Wright from Stockport, a slow burner who has suddenly sprung into life after ten years on and off with Buxton and Workington.

The said Steve Worrall was a big miss at Somerset last night and Monarchs must cover his No. 4 spot better against the 23-year-old Swedish rider, Pontus Aspgren who joined Wolves in 2012 before impressing at Rye House in 2013 and being a surprise signing for Somerset this year. He has now recovered from a broken hand sustained in June.

There's a really close contest at No.5 where Monarchs newest master of Armadale, smilin' Sam Masters lines up opposite 21-year-ols Nick Morris from Canberra who has amazingly won a national title in every one of his five UK seasons, one each at National League and Elite League levels and three Premier titles with three different clubs!

Monarchs were heavily outscored at reserve at Somerset, so Aaron Fox will be looking to reverse that situation tonight when he lines up opposite 21-year-old Australian long track racer, Todd Kurtz from New South Wales who has spent all his time in the 'deep south' with Newport (2011), Plymouth 2012-13) and now impressively at Somerset

Nobody will be more determined to produce his best display than Monarchs inspirational skipper Derek Sneddon who is faced across the pits at No.7 by Cradley-born Paul Starke (23) who spent three years with Isle of Wight before a short spell at Newcastle in 2012 and a season at Berwick in 2013 before slotting in well with the 2014 Rebels.

If Monarchs want to win the title they have to outscore Somerset by more than 12 points on the night. It's a big challenge, so can they do it? Of course they can! They're unbeaten at home in 2014 and they have only failed to win by more than 12 points in two home matches (once to Peterborough and once to Newcastle).

Naturally, tactical rides will always be lurking in the background to keep the scores close, just as they did last night, so it's vital that Monarchs eat into the deficit as quickly as possible. The first two heats will give a good indication of how the night will play out and with only six riders each, neither side can afford another injury on the night.

So it all comes down to the last 15 heats of the season. Edinburgh will be expected to win on the night and they won by 16 points when the teams met in August, so a similar scoreline tonight would do just nicely. But every single point will be fiercely contested and the Monarchs will need all the fantastic support you can give them from the terraces.

Remember the earlier start time. Tapes up at 7.00 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, R/R for Stevie Worrall, Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Derek Sneddon (captain).

CASES SOMERSET REBELS: Aaron Summers (guest for Oliver Allen), R/R for Brady Kurtz, Charles Wright, Pontus Aspgren, Nick Morris (captain), Todd Kurtz, Paul Starke.