Birmingham Brummies v Edinburgh Monarchs

REPORT Wednesday 16th September 2009, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Birmingham was a great venue for us last year, and so it proved to be again as we dashed the Brummies? faint championship hopes with a brilliant 49-41 triumph.

It seemed a bit uncharitable as Birmingham had kindly done us a title-winning favour last year, but there you go. We were just so good.

The track was slickish but still provided some excellent racing as the home men, notably Piszcz, expected, but Aaron Summers was equally good and both Rajkowski and Wethers were also very effective.

Ryan started the night with a big win over Piszcz, reminding us how impressive he had been here last season. Max Dilger briefly showed but was quickly passed by both home riders.

Bekker made a good start in heat 2 and went across Herne who fell and brought both men down. The exclusion of Herne seemed a little harsh but assisted us to go ahead with a 4-2 after Aaron had re-passed Lee Smart.

Sweetman showed his class by heading our strong middle pair, and Lyons likewise in heat 4, but we shared the heats.

Ryan came down on the outside of the first bend in heat 5, but made a better start at the second attempt to sweep home for another win.

Brummies levelled in heat 6 but it was an excellent ride by Rajkowski to pass Harrison for second behind Piszcz.

Lyons headed Wethers and Wolbert, then we had a pileup in heat 8 as Max tried to get in on the match. He was fighting to hold third but ran into Smart. He was excluded but Aaron Summers maintained our position by winning the rerun easily.

Now Rajkowski showed his battling quality with a storming ride in heat 9, pushing his way to the front and holding off Sweetman in a fine race.

Wolbert had himself dialled in now and rode a thundering heat 10 to beat Piszcz, who was also strongly pressurised by Wethers as we took a 2-point lead.

Now it was Fisher v Lyons again, with memories of last year?s classics, and once again Ryan rode a great race. Aaron held third but apparently lost his seat as he dropped back into last place.

He was needed for the next one though, and with seat attached he backed Kevin to a crucial 5-1 over Lindgren who seemed somewhat subdued.

The first corner of heat 13 was always going to be hotly contested, and it was a domino effect as Lyons came down outside Piszcz and Fisher. After treatment Jason was OK but could only manage a point as Piszcz took the first point off Fisher.

What a great race heat 14 was. Wethers and Summers set up a team ride with Sweetman pressing. The home Aussie squeezed past Matthew and then Aaron as well, only for Aaron to come back with a brilliant burst off the outside of the second bend.

That was enough to ensure that we had won the match. We needed an advantage for the extra point.

We got that with a bit of help from Tomasz Piszcz?s bike which stopped while he was leading. Fortunately the others missed him but Ryan was impeded and lost position to Lyons. With Wolbert winning though we had the points we needed.

As always Birmingham were sporting and as our riders walked across to acknowledge the fans their announcer actually introduced our boys individually, a nice touch.

Full Result Details