The team with the trophy at Lynn Image Credit: Steve Hone

PLAYOFF TITLE BRILLIANTLY RETAINED

NEWS Tuesday 20th October 2009, 6:20am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs turned in a superb display to comfortably retain the Premier Playoff Trophy in a match which, with reasonable luck, they would have won.

Never at any stage did the 20 point lead from the first leg seem to be under threat. We had ten heat winners in all, including 5 of the first 6, and the tie was virtually clinched in heat 11.

Monarchs now take on Belle Vue in the Promotion / Relegtation match on Saturday at Armadale (the day after the KO Cup Final!) and in Manchester on Monday.

It's almost too much to take in as the big events just keep on coming.

Only a run of bad luck prevented us winning in Norfolk. The only lasting damage was to Michal Rajkoswki, who lifted and fell yards from the line in heat 8 with a 5-1 in the bag. He injured his ankle and we await further news. However it didn't stop him lining up with the team and trophy.

We also saw Aaron Summers lose a chain while leading heat 12, and heat 13 was stopped with Wolbert and Fisher yards clear when Proctor fell at the end of lap 2.

It had to be rerun due to one of the stupidest rules in the book (which referees invariable feel the need to make an apologetic announcement for), and in that rerun Ryan was questionably excluded for moving Ostergaard over (but not off or into the fence) on the first corner.

It was a pity that Jim Lawrence made this poor decision because it has allowed the ever-ready internet vultures to leap in on Fisher's case.

A couple of very close finishes also went to the home riders but none of it really mattered, we won 97-83 on aggregate with Wolbert, Katajisto and Fisher all in outstanding form.