The latest in designer fences Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

BIG WIN OVER THE ROCKETS

REPORT Friday 25th May 2012, 11:38pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs gave a great all-round display and built up a 28-point lead in the first leg of the Knockout Cup tie against Rye House. They must be favourites to qualify when the second leg is staged at Hoddesdon tomorrow but will travel with no complacency.

All seven of the team deserve praise, with heat leaders Craig Cook, Andrew Tully and Theo Pijper all in double figures and sharing 10 race wins, but a special mention has to be reserved for Derek Sneddon.

After an unlucky heat 1 in which he was accidentally baulked and finished pointless, he gritted his teeth and gated like a demon, finishing in second place behind his partner in his remaining three rides – all 5-1s obviously.

It was a key contribution and a great comeback from a man with an unquenchable spirit.

All 7 Monarchs had a win or paid win on their record and it was the reserves who put the team in front with a heat 2 5-1. Matthew Wethers was very much on song and dropped his only point in heat 14.

Charlie Gjedde, track specialist, won heat 1 but remarkably never won another heat and picked up two lasts. Jordan Frampton was another disappointment for the Rockets who had no-one on more than 7 points.

Len Silver made the trip up and reacted sportingly, but there is no doubt he was very disappointed by his team's showing, and especially by their gating.

Other than Gjedde, only Mellgren won a race for the visitors and in a way their only success was the absent Hawkins (ill) whose rider replacement rides scored 7+1, more than he has scored on any of his 13 visits to Armadale.