OUR TEAM NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE BEATEN

NEWS Sunday 16th June 2013, 9:08pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

You certainly need a strong constitution to follow this team. Against all odds, they came from behind again to win 46-44 at Newcastle, taking the aggregate victory by a point in a pulsating K O Cup quarter final.

With Jozsef Tabaka missing we knew we were up against it, and to hold Newcastle to just six points after ten heats, 33-27, was a very decent effort - and it was also two points better than we were at the same stage at Somerset last Tuesday!

This though, surely, would be too much to ask?

In heat 11, Craig and Derek took a 4-2 against the Worralls, Craig handing Richie his first defeat.

In heat 12, Max Fricke took his second win, slipping past Christian Henry early on, and with a much-improved Claus Vissing third, we had cut the deficit to two points on the night, three overall.

Heat 13 was some race. This time Richie Worrall made the start on Craig (and don't forget Worrall scored an 18-point Elite league maximum during the week).

Craig raced after him, probing for the gap, but was still behind at the final bend. He put everything into a wide sweeping move - and went ahead on the race to the line!

Heat 14 was now crucial. Rider replacement for Jozsef had brought zero from his first three, but this time Derek took the ride alongside Max.

In the first running Steve Worrall made the start, Max went round him, then Worrall made an error and Derek ran into then back of him! All four back.

Rerun, Derek gated with Lindgren on his tail. The Swede tried everything to pass but Derek knows how to make it awkward. But Max was in there as well, and when Lindgren tried to switch lines on the last corner, Max was past for the 5-1!

So we were two up on aggregate! The last heat was Robson and Richie Worrall against Cook and Vissing. Everyone's nerves were at breaking point - except for young master Cook!

He claims he feels no pressure, and he made a blistering start to win by such a margin the home men simply team rode for the drawn heat.

Earlier, Craig had recorded the two fastest times of the season, and was just 0.4 outside the track record as late as heat 11!

The track had been excellent, and everyone at Newcastle was thoroughly sporting.

We might be knocked about a bit but when it comes to fighting spirit, this team is truly amazing.

Full Result Details