Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits

REPORT Friday 4th May 2012, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Edinburgh had two key men missing, costing them quite a few points, but still pulled away for a big win against a disappointing Berwick side.

Losing your fifth (Derek Sneddon) and seventh (Charles Wright) average riders is a difficult combination to replace but on this occasion it didn’t matter. Top trio Craig Cook, Theo Pijper and Andrew Tully were all majestic, Cook being the only one to drop a point when Seb Alden gated well in heat 6.

The Swede also led heat 4 but Tully caught and passed him after two laps. These were the only times the Bandits threatened to disrupt the smooth flow of points accruing to the home side.

David Bellego deserves a mention and had a go on a track much slicker than in previous weeks, with consequent reduction in quality of racing.

As well as the big three, Matthew Wethers was sound for the home team, and he was able to lend support to his fellow countryman Micky Dyer who had his best night to date.

The youngster won heats 2 and 14, and took a paid win in heat 8, and his virtue is that when he gains a position he can hold it without making mistakes.

Byron Bekker certainly looks the part this year in his Dudley colours, but he has only done a couple of meetings so far. Nevertheless his point in heat 2 was important, or seemed so at the time when a tight match was expected.

Monarchs will have tougher tests and they are still not well placed to cover for Sneddon’s absence. Bandits will have to show more fire if they are to improve their away performances.

Full Result Details