Scunthorpe Scorpions v Edinburgh Monarchs

This Bank Holiday Monday match has been traditionally a very enjoyable one, usually drawing a good crowd to the Eddie Wright Raceway.

We might have been expected to win with a bit to spare given Scunthorpe’s poor form recently, but in fact Alex Davies suddenly discovered his best form and made it a very tough contest indeed. Scores were level after 10 races, and it looked like a real close one.

Rob Branford had a lot to do with breaking the deadlock, beating Lunna in heats 11 and 12, with Sam Masters and Kevin Wolbert winning these heats. That gave us a 4-point lead, extended in heat 13 through Craig Cook and Sam Masters.

When Wilkinson was excluded for falling in heat 14 we knew the match was safe, and we ensured the four points by splitting heat 15 after Davies had passed Kevin Wolbert for the lead.

Every one of our riders contributed. Max Clegg won heat 2, and very nearly held off Carl Wilkinson in his next ride. Rob Branford scored several important points, while Justin Sedgmen started with a stinker but later won two races.

Regular race wins came from the top three, 3 wins for the flying Wolbert, 3 for Craig and 2 for Sam on one of his least favourite tracks.

Craig had the ride of the night to sweep past Wilkinson and Davies in heat 9 after missing the start. He got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

Gate 4 provided 8 race winners, plus other riders making the start but being subsequently caught, while it was very hard to make a start from the inside.

Max Clegg won all his four rides in the NL Challenge match which followed, riding for Halifax.