Academy edge home in a thriller

Having won handsomely at Berwick, it might have been anticipated that the Stellar Monarchs Academy would win comfortably at home – but it was anything but comfortable. A few problems in the home camp plus a gritty display by the visiting Bullets took it right to the last heat and a 2-point home win at the last gasp.

The odd-looking Academy scorechart finds 40 of the points scored by numers 5, 6 and 7. Berwick were more solid with a great display by Steve Boxall.

Team manager Scott Wilson comments "We got over the line for the three points and that is the most important thing. When you're running rider replacement you can't really afford the other guys to have an off night and unfortunately we had a couple tonight who did.

"Luckily Max Clegg, Mickie Simpson and Dayle Wood stepped up and saved us! Max again led us superbly, he is our 'Mr Reliable'. It speaks volumes for his progress that Dayle scored double figures tonight and nobody is surprised. His efforts in heat 15 ultimately got us the win as Connor was so pre-occupied with Dayle's inside dives that it allowed Max to come around into second.

"The hero of the night was Mickie! His inside passes off bend 4 were reminiscent of some Monarchs' stars of the past. A matchwinning performance."

Scott's praise for reserve Simpson was well placed as he continually came from the back for vital points. No. 1 Adam Roynon had a tricky night having already completed 6 rides in the Championship match, and he ran into some machine problems. And guest Max Perry, a talented 16 year old, had even more problems as he seemed to find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Scores see-sawed back and forward and we were level at 30-30 after ten heats, at which point we had perhaps the best heat of the NDL match. Mickie Simpson got himself to the front ahead of Coles, followed through by Max Clegg with Coles eventually sliding off.

Another Simpson win in heat 12 extended the lead to 39-33, but it still wasn't all over as the Bullets took an advantage from heat 14, and so needed a 5-1 to level the scores and set up a superheat.

And it looked a possibility as the outstanding Boxall sped off to win, followed by Coles, until a two-pronged attack by Clegg and Wood unsettled Coles to allow Max Clegg into second to clinch a two point win. The aggregate bonus was also taken, comfortably. This was the first point Max Clegg has dropped this season at Armadale.