Plymouth Gladiators
Bjarne Pedersen 13+1 (5)
Edinburgh Monarchs
Richie Worrall 10+1 (5)
Championship
50
40
Tuesday 3rd August 2021
The Coliseum
Plymouth Gladiators
Team Manager: Garry May
50
1. Jason Crump 0 2 3 1 6 0
2. Dillon Ruml 1 1* 0 2 1
3. Zach Cook 1* 2 1* 0 4 2
4. Zane Keleher 2 1* 2 3 2* 10 2
5. Bjarne Pedersen 3 3 1* 3 3 13 1
6. Alfie Bowtell 1* 1 3 2 2 2* 11 2
7. Jason Edwards 2 0 2* 4 1
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: John Campbell
40
1. Sam Masters 3 3 3 0 R 9 0
2. William Lawson 2* 0 1 0 3 1
3. Kye Thomson F 2 2 3 7 0
4. Josh Pickering 3 0 1* 1 5 1
5. Richie Worrall 1* 3 3 2 1 10 1
6. Luke Crang 0 0 0 0 0
7. Nathan Greaves 3 2 0 1 0 6 0
Heat 1
Time: 51.22
1. Jason Crump  
0
2. Dillon Ruml  
1
1. Sam Masters  
3
2. William Lawson  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
1
1
Away
5
5
Heat 2
Time: 52.50
6. Alfie Bowtell  
1
7. Jason Edwards  
2
6. Luke Crang  
0
7. Nathan Greaves  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
4
Away
3
8
Heat 3
Time: 51.56
3. Zach Cook  
1
4. Zane Keleher  
2
3. Kye Thomson  
F
4. Josh Pickering  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
7
Away
3
11
Heat 4
Time: 50.56
5. Bjarne Pedersen  
3
7. Jason Edwards  
0
5. Richie Worrall  
1
7. Nathan Greaves  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
10
Away
3
14
Heat 5
Time: 50.22
3. Zach Cook  
2
4. Zane Keleher  
1
1. Sam Masters  
3
2. William Lawson  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
13
Away
3
17
Heat 6
Time: 51.28
1. Jason Crump  
2
2. Dillon Ruml  
1
5. Richie Worrall  
3
6. Luke Crang  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
16
Away
3
20
Heat 7
Time: 51.35
5. Bjarne Pedersen  
3
6. Alfie Bowtell  
1
3. Kye Thomson  
2
4. Josh Pickering  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
20
Away
2
22
Heat 8
Time: 51.90
2. Dillon Ruml  
6. Alfie Bowtell
3
7. Jason Edwards  
2
2. William Lawson  
1
7. Nathan Greaves  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
25
Away
1
23
Heat 9
Time: 52.00
3. Zach Cook  
1
4. Zane Keleher  
2
5. Richie Worrall  
3
6. Luke Crang  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
28
Away
3
26
Heat 10
Time: 51.47
1. Jason Crump  
3
2. Dillon Ruml  
0
3. Kye Thomson  
2
4. Josh Pickering  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
31
Away
3
29
Heat 11
Time: 51.87
5. Bjarne Pedersen  
1
6. Alfie Bowtell  
2
1. Sam Masters  
3
2. William Lawson  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
34
Away
3
32
Heat 12
Time: 51.31
3. Zach Cook  
0
7. Jason Edwards  
6. Alfie Bowtell
2
3. Kye Thomson  
3
6. Luke Crang  
7. Nathan Greaves
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
36
Away
4
36
Heat 13
Time: 51.62
1. Jason Crump  
1
5. Bjarne Pedersen  
3
1. Sam Masters  
0
5. Richie Worrall  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
40
Away
2
38
Heat 14
Time: 53.65
4. Zane Keleher  
3
6. Alfie Bowtell  
2
4. Josh Pickering  
1
7. Nathan Greaves  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
45
Away
1
39
Heat 15
Time: 52.00
4. Zane Keleher  
2
5. Bjarne Pedersen  
3
5. Richie Worrall  
1
1. Sam Masters  
R
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
50
Away
1
40

The What the Fork Monarchs started well before fading late ultimately leaving Plymouth's Coliseum empty handed as the hosts ran out 50-40 victors.

With conditions changing as the night went on the home men definitely adjusted better and with Alfie Bowtell putting in a man of the match performance from reserve it is a night just to dust themselves down and move on for the Armadale men who now head for Poole on Wednesday night.

One Monarch who did acquit themselves well was Kye Thomson the Aussie improving as the night went on finishing with 7 points these all coming after a first race fall. Thomson saying after 'it was pretty difficult we held on for a long time but it ended up getting away and it was their night. The light and the tapes were going up a bit inconsistent so I struggled with that. My first one I thought there was going to be a crash so that caused me to come off but I finished strong personally it's just a shame we couldn't at least get a point.'

The Monarchs got of to a dream start with Sam Masters and William Lawson roaring from the tapes for a maximum.

Nathan Greaves won heat 2 at the 3rd attempt and after a 15 minute delay for track work as the riders didn't look particularly happy with conditions particularly the 1st bend and with the majority of the dirt being pulled from the track at this point gating was key.

That is not to say there was not some exciting racing as heat 3 saw Josh Pickering pass Zane Keleher for the lead, Keleher trying to pin Pickering down on the 1st bend almost causing both to come off and unsettling Thomson who came down in 3rd.

Heat wins for Sam Masters and Richie Worrall in 2 of the next 3 races maintained the visitors lead at 4 going into heat 7 but this is where the home men started to turn the screw.

Key to this was undoubtedly Bowtell as he held Pickering off for 3rd in heat 7 for a home 4-2 then winning heat 8 as a reserve switch, with teammate Jason Edwards joining him at the front the Gladiators had their first lead.

The Monarchs did draw level in heat 12 with Thomson taking a good win, Nathan Greaves riding well to keep Ben Cook at the back also.

Any hopes this would lead to a big finish for the Armadale men were short founded as Bjarne Pedersen who was impressive throughout roared to a heat 13 win and with returning Jason Crump in 3rd the home men had the lead again.

Heat 14 looked like a chance for the Monarchs as they exited the 2nd bend in front, Greaves was perhaps slightly guilty of staying mid track on bends 3 and 4 this to take nothing away from Keleher though who swept past the field with an outrageous inside swoop, teammate Bowtell must have taken note as he repeated the trick a lap later for a home 5-1.

This meant the best the Monarchs could hope for was a consolation point with a last heat share of the spoils required for this. Again though it was the Gladiators who shot from the tapes and while both Masters and Richie Worrall tried manfully to overthrow Keleher it was not to be, Masters bike then giving up the ghost on the 3rd lap to seal the Monarchs gate and send the home fans away happy.

The What the Fork Monarchs are back in action on Tuesday night as they make what must be the longest trip in UK speedway (491 miles door to door for those interested) to take on the Plymouth Gladiators with Championship points the aim.

The Monarchs having bounced back superbly from that home defeat to Glasgow by reversing the score 2 days later currently sit second in the table and with 7 more points gained away from home than lost at home look well placed for a playoff spot, complacency will not be allowed to set in though as with tough home fixtures to come and teams below us on a charge every point is still vital and a win on Tuesday would be most welcome.

Looking to stop this will be the home men Gladiators who have had a bit of an up and down year so far. All the headlines were grabbed at the start of the season by their captures of Jason Crump and Bjarne Pedersen and while the latter had been his usual immaculate self Crump has not had his troubles to seek with a couple of injury layoffs. The multiple times world champion returns to action in this one though and that is sure to give a lift to his teammates and add to the occasion for the large traveling contingent of Monarchs fans taking this in as part of a southern sojourn.

Elsewhere back up comes from recent addition Zane Keleher who is making the Coliseum his own breaking the track record their just last week.

Zach Cook and Dillon Ruml make up the middle order both improving as the season progresses and at reserve Alfie Bowtell and Jason Edwards are very handy round their home shale also.

For the What the Fork Monarchs there are a couple of changes from the last time they took to track. First the August averages dictate that Nathan gets a spell at reserve with Willie moving up into the number 2 slot.

Elsewhere it's a Monarchs debut for Luke Crang who comes in to replace Joe Lawlor. Crang having made a recent comeback to the sport with a stunning maximum for Berwick in the National development league.

The rest of the septet are as usual with the top 3 in particular all on fine form. Sam, Richie and Josh all in or paid for double figures in the Premiership on Monday night.

As most away tracks are it will be a debut for Kye at the circuit but with the way he has taken to places such as Berwick and Newcastle this year not to mention his home form there are no worries on what he will produce.

So an enthralling battle looks in store as the Gladiators look to defend their home patch. Live updates available from the Monarchs official webpage with tapes up at 7pm!