Newcastle Diamonds
Steve Worrall 13+2 (6)
Edinburgh Monarchs
Richard Lawson 16 (6)
Championship
51
39
Sunday 8th September 2019
Newcastle Stadium
Newcastle Diamonds
Team Manager: George English
51
1. Steve Worrall 2 3 2* 2 1* 3 13 2
2. Max Clegg 1* 3 2* 1* 0 7 3
3. Lasse Bjerre R 1 2 3 3 9 0
4. Matthew Wethers R/R 0 0
5. Thomas Jorgensen 2 3 1* 1* 2 9 2
6. Ulrich Ostergaard 3 3 3 2 0 11 0
7. Danny Phillips 1 1* 0 0 2 1
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: John Campbell
39
1. Richard Lawson 3 2 3 3 3 2 16 0
2. James Sarjeant 0 1 0 1 0
3. Josh Pickering 2 2 3 2 1* 10 1
4. Ricky Wells 1* 1* R 1* 3 3
5. Cameron Heeps 3 1 0 0 4 0
6. William Lawson 0 2 0 1* 2 5 1
7. Connor Coles 0 0 0 0 0
Heat 1
 
1. Steve Worrall  
2
2. Max Clegg  
1
1. Richard Lawson  
3
2. James Sarjeant  
6. William Lawson
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
3
Away
3
3
Heat 2
 
6. Ulrich Ostergaard  
3
7. Danny Phillips  
1
6. William Lawson  
2
7. Connor Coles  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
7
Away
2
5
Heat 3
 
3. Lasse Bjerre  
R
4. Matthew Wethers R/R  
1. Steve Worrall
3
3. Josh Pickering  
2
4. Ricky Wells  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
10
Away
3
8
Heat 4
 
5. Thomas Jorgensen  
2
7. Danny Phillips  
1
5. Cameron Heeps  
3
7. Connor Coles  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
13
Away
3
11
Heat 5
 
3. Lasse Bjerre  
1
4. Matthew Wethers R/R  
6. Ulrich Ostergaard
3
1. Richard Lawson  
2
2. James Sarjeant  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
17
Away
2
13
Heat 6
 
1. Steve Worrall  
2
2. Max Clegg  
3
5. Cameron Heeps  
1
6. William Lawson  
7. Connor Coles
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
22
Away
1
14
Heat 7
 
5. Thomas Jorgensen  
3
6. Ulrich Ostergaard  
7. Danny Phillips
0
3. Josh Pickering  
2
4. Ricky Wells  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
25
Away
3
17
Heat 8
 
2. Max Clegg  
2
7. Danny Phillips  
6. Ulrich Ostergaard
3
2. James Sarjeant  
1
7. Connor Coles  
6. William Lawson
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
30
Away
1
18
Heat 9
 
3. Lasse Bjerre  
2
4. Matthew Wethers R/R  
5. Thomas Jorgensen
1
5. Cameron Heeps  
0
6. William Lawson  T/S
1. Richard Lawson
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
33
Away
3
21
Heat 10
 
1. Steve Worrall  
2
2. Max Clegg  
1
3. Josh Pickering  
3
4. Ricky Wells  
R
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
36
Away
3
24
Heat 11
 
5. Thomas Jorgensen  
1
6. Ulrich Ostergaard  
2
1. Richard Lawson  
3
2. James Sarjeant  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
39
Away
3
27
Heat 12
 
3. Lasse Bjerre  
3
7. Danny Phillips  
0
3. Josh Pickering  
2
6. William Lawson  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
42
Away
3
30
Heat 13
 
1. Steve Worrall  
1
5. Thomas Jorgensen  
2
1. Richard Lawson  
3
5. Cameron Heeps  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
45
Away
3
33
Heat 14
 
4. Matthew Wethers R/R  
3. Lasse Bjerre
3
6. Ulrich Ostergaard  
0
4. Ricky Wells  
1
7. Connor Coles  
6. William Lawson
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
48
Away
3
36
Heat 15
 
1. Steve Worrall  
3
2. Max Clegg  
0
1. Richard Lawson  
2
3. Josh Pickering  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
51
Away
3
39

The Staggs Bar Monarchs duly completed their full complement of away defeats for the season when they went down 39-51 at Newcastle.

There was never much doubt about the outcome and the fact that we scored 39, embarrassingly enough one of our best away scores of the season, was due almost entirely to guest Richard Lawson and Josh Pickering.

Lawson was an absolute model of professionalism with fast starts and almost faultless riding all night. He had four wins in six starts, plus two seconds, one of these coming in the final race when he had a nibble at the start. The red lights came on, then went off again, and the race continued.

Josh has of course had some thrilling races round Newcastle in recent years and he added some more, especially heat 10. He swept round Clegg, ate up the ground on Steve Worrall and in spite of a lifting front wheel he pulled off a brilliant cutback to take the victory.

He had another great chase on Bjerre in heat 12 and was always worth watching.

That's not something we can say about the remainder of the side. Cameron Heeps had a very good win in his opening heat over Jorgensen but then tailed off alarmingly.

Once upon a time we could have looked to Ricky Wells for a good score here, and we still hope, but his form was again very poor. He retired from one heat and dropped behind his partner in his other three when he might more profitably have chased the race leader.

James Sarjeant's starting problems reappeared with three pulled back starts leading to one exclusion and one 15 metre ride. It wasn't a good night for James.

At reserve William Lawson managed a few on a track he knows well, including a defeat of blockbuster reserve Ostergaard, but Connor Coles was off the pace.

Diamonds scored well throughout the team, with every rider able to take a ride for the absent Matthew Wethers. They haven't had a great season but still have a cup final to look forward to.

It's another jaunt down the A1 on Sunday evening as the Staggs Bar Monarchs complete their away league campaign at Brough Park against the Newcastle Diamonds.

The Monarchs are still searching for a win on the road this year and in fact haven't tasted glory on their travels since a resounding win at Redcar in July last year and this is a run that all involved are very keen to end.

Brough Park is not unknown territory for this team as the Monarchs have already visited Tyneside twice being on the end of 10 and 22 point defeats so an improvement is required.

Off course both of these results were before Sam Masters was re-introduced back into the fold but unfortunately Sam will not be there to help us as he rides in the Polish playoffs. Eastbourne's top man Richard Lawson is booked to guest and a repeat of his 15 point score from 2 weeks ago would be much appreciated.

The team line up as usual the rest of the way with the hammering at Berwick on Saturday night now firmly behind the boys as they have been left in no uncertainty that despite the playoffs now being unattainable that a year with no wins on the road which would be only the 3rd time in the last 60 years this is happened is not acceptable.

The Diamonds have had an up and down season at times looking strong while struggling at others. This is surprising when you look at the make up of their team with on paper Steve Worrall, Lasse Bjerre and Thomas Jorgensen on a par with any trio in the division solid back up from a rejuvenated Matty Wethers and some astute signings keeping Max Clegg at reserve for the majority of the season.

It is still to be confirmed if Matty will ride in this one after a heavy fall against Berwick if the former league winning Monarch is not fit to take his place rider replacement will operate with all bar Worrall eligible for a ride.

There is also a switch at reserve where the September averages see Clegg and Ulrich Ostergaard switch places.

This is the start of a busy week for the Diamonds with visits to Glasgow and Sheffield during the week and the looming prospect of a KO Cup final against local rivals Redcar.

So the big question is can the Staggs Bar Monarchs break the away hoodoo and at least finish the campaign on a high with home matches against Sheffield and the Diamonds still to come.

For those not in attendance keep an eye on the Monarchs official website for updates from 18.30.