Edinburgh Monarchs v Somerset Rebels

REPORT Friday 28th July 2006, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After an incredible first ten heats in which we could do little wrong, Somerset made some inroads into our lead.

The eventual winning margin was 21 points, very good considering our weakened team, but in all honesty a score which flattered Somerset.

Our guest replacement for Theo Pijper was eventually Kevin Little, after Stan Burza called off following a fall at Ipswich on Thursday. Kevin did a great job.

He started off by riding inside Matthew Wethers and holding off the close attentions of Zetterstrom for a surprise 5-1.

Ben Barker never moved from the start in heat 2, a 4-2, and we took another 5-1 by a massive margin in heat 3 with danger man Kramer right at the back.

Heat 4 was a routine 4-2, after which the Rebels put Zetterstrom on a TR to try to get back into the match.

Henrik was off gate 4 and was pulled back for a flier, then came down at the second attempt after some contact with Zetterstrom. After treatment he bounced back - and although his start was poor, he fought off Zetterstrom and passed Phillips to join Wethers for another amazing 5-1!

Heat 6 was yet another 5-1 after a great outside move by Little on the first corner, and with the score at 28-8 and Zorro's TR gone, our position was extremely strong.

Kramer finally got going in heat 7 to hold of William Lawson's challenge, the first Rebels' race advantage.

Monarchs' answer was three successive 5-1's! Henrik and Derek in heat 8, Henrik and Matthew in heat 9 and Kevin and William in heat 10. In a match we expected to be tough we were now 45-15 in front.

The last 5 heats changed the picture somewhat. Zetterstrom got going to beat William in heat 11, though Lawson did challenge hard. We brought in Derek Sneddon but he finished at the back.

Heat 12 was a great win from the back by Matthew who passed Katt coming out of the fourth bend, through a very small space indeed. This time Derek got the third to take us to 30 ahead again.

Zetterstrom won heat 13, Little's first dropped point, but with two to go we were still 30 up.

Heat 14 though was a different tale. This time Henrik didn't make a good start, and TR Kramer headed him - as did reserve Ben Barker! Try as he might Henrik could not improve his position so we lost the dreaded 1-8.

Zetterstrom was now flying and he won heat 15 easily, with Kramer third and the Rebels had got away with just a 21-point loss. Nevertheless it was a very good Monarchs' performance.

HALMOND ENGINEERING MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Matthew Wethers

Full Result Details