Monarchs Reign At Shielfield

If you are only going to lead a match at one stage then the time to do it is after heat 15 and that is exactly what the Monarchs achieved as a last heat 5-1 from the imperious Sam Masters and Josh Pickering gave them the spoils and a further 3 points in their quest to reach the Jubilee League final.

To be fair there isn't a pairing in the league any Monarchs fan would rather have when the occasion occurs and yet again the Aussie duo roared from the tapes to take the match clinching points despite the valiant efforts of Redcar guest Charles Wright who was on Pickering's tail throughout.

While Masters and Pickering will rightfully take the plaudits there were important contributions throughout with Kye Thomson who won his last heat after a night of bike problems saying after

'I had a bike malfunction but that's not an excuse I couldn't get into things early but I made a great gate in my last to finish on a win. When you have Sam and Josh them boys were unreal and it keeps everyone going as well as we are never out of it. This has been a big weekend for us and we are right in this competition.'

The match was nip and tuck to start with the Monarchs having the lions share of heat winners most of these from Masters and Pickering but failing to turn these into advantages.

That meant the score was all square after 6 races before the home men started to turn the screw. 5-1's in heats 7 and 10 were sandwiched by a 4-2 in heat 8 meaning the Bandits were 10 in front.

The rest of the way would be all about the Monarchs though as they fought back, first up in heat 11 with a 5-1 from who else but Masters and Pickering who had been brought in for a tactical ride. Heat 12 and it was Thomson who made the jump to end his night on a high and with James Sarjeant in 3rd the lead was down to 4.

Heat 13 was race of the night as recently crowned British under 19 champ Leon Flint led from the start. Masters would not be denied though as he stalked the youngster for 3 laps before cutting under him entering the final lap, with Pickering in 3rd the deficit had been cut more so.

Heat 14 looked a strong one for the Bandits with star reserve Jonas Knudsen out with former Monarchs number 1 Ricky Wells. Knudsen make the gate but with Wells stuck at the back and held off well by a tenacious ride from Sarjeant it was a share of the spoils and the table was set for the last.

With Masters unbeaten and Pickering having only been beaten once and the Monarchs having pick of the gates their was optimism the job could be completed and so it would be despite a ferocious challenge from Berwick guest Charles Wright who nearly rounded Pickering on the last lap.

Pickering held firm though and it is 3 points that head up the A1 with the Monarchs attention now turning to a mouthwatering Scottish derby clash with Glasgow next Friday.

Berwick Bandits 44: Wright 7+1, Pijper 8+2, Etheridge 6+2, Wells 5+1, Flint 7+1, Knudsen 7, Stoneman 4

What the Fork Monarchs 46: Masters 14+1, Complin 2, Thomson 4, Andersen 6, Pickering 15+1, Hook 0, Sarjeant 5+1

Monarchs Head For Shielfield Looking For Points

The What the Fork Monarchs look to build on a competition opening win as they head to Shielfield Park on Saturday evening to take on the Berwick Bandits the same opposition they bested by 12 points at Armadale on Friday night.

Off course the Bandits are a different proposition at home despite a surprisingly poor record on their own shale this season so any points gained will be very welcome.

The home men no doubt will be looking to start building a bit of confidence and save face after 2 defeats on the road in the group so far.

One change for the Bandits from that that lined up as they did at Armadale comes at number 1 where Chris Harris is in France on European Pairs duty (more on that later) with Redcar's Charles Wright stepping in, Wright recording. A 11 point haul from 4 rides at Shielfield just 7 days ago.

The Bandits are well stocked at reserve where Jonas Knudsen and Nathan Stoneman were both very impressive in the Armadale match-up however more will be expected from the middle order of Theo Pijper, Jye Etheridge and Ricky Wells who only contributed 5 points between them.

For the Monarchs Lasse Fredriksen and Paco Castagna both are in that same meeting as Harris with Lee Complin and Kasper Anderson stepping in, both former Bandits albeit with a fair bit of time between when Complin pulled on the Black and Gold as opposed to Anderson.

The rest of the lineup is as expected with tapes up at 6.30pm due to a National League KO Cup clash between the Berwick Bullets and Leicester Lion Cubs after. Live updates available on the Monarchs website