ANDREW INJURED ON BAD DAY

NEWS Sunday 3rd October 2010, 7:57pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It's just as well that the main business of the season has been completed as things certainly are not going our way now. It has been confirmed that Andrew Tully has a broken and dislocated right forearm after his heat 4 crash at Ashfield today.

Although it turned out a sunny afternoon, there had been heavy rain and the track was extremely difficult in the early stages.

Ryan Fisher fell in heat 1, and other riders were clearly having difficulty.

The worst incident came in heat 4. Andrew Tully and William Lawson actually led the way, but entering the third corner Andrew locked slightly, which threw off his chain.

Shane Parker laid his bike down instantly but the engine hit Andrew's arm. In confirming the break, his dad Robert said "It was just as well it was Shane following because he was so close it could have been worse."

There was a lengthy delay while Andrew was tended to, and some much needed grading took place. Thereafter the track was a bit better though we had further fallers in Fisher (again) and Katajisto.

Just to show that it wasn't our day, Matthew Wethers stalled before the start of heat 8, while taking our first TR. He didn't beat the two minutes, had to go off 15 metres and took a brave second place.

Our other TR went to Kalle who completely fluffed the start of heat 12, in which Nick Morris seemed extremely fortunate not to be ruled out on 2 minutes.

After a third ride in which he was forced to tour round with a bike problem, Ryan switched bikes and took comfortable wins over Parker (heat 11) then Parker and McGowan (heat 13).

The reserves were overworked and did contribute some points, but William Lawson is still well short of the form he is capable of. He will now be a key man in the KO Cup Final with a weak rider replacement facility for Andrew, whose season is sadly over.

We took a slightly surprising 4-2 in heat 14 in which Tigers' guest Jade Mudgway crashed. The meeting was abandoned at that point.

We therefore have to overturn a score of 35-51 in Friday's second leg.

There is still the consolation that we are Premier Leaguer Champions 2010!

Andrew will have an operation on Monday or Tuesday. He says "I hope it's tomorrow 'cos it's agony!"