Maximum man Theo takes his first win Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

WE'RE IN THE PLAYOFFS

REPORT Friday 23rd August 2013, 11:57pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs made their Playoff place mathematically certain by beating Rye House 58-34 tonight, but have injury concerns over two key team members.

It does seem likely that young Josh Bates, hero of last week's win over Somerset, has a broken wrist after his heat 11 crash, caught on the outside of Derek Sneddon and Oliver Allen as they swung round the first corner.

Josh had already been brought off trying to sweep round Tyson Nelson in heat 7, so his luck was very much out. He didn't ride again after his heat 11 crash and an unsuccessful attempt to ride in the rerun.

Claus Vissing was also ruled out of the meeting, in his case as early as heat 3. He was leading the heat but was hit from behind by Kasper Lykke as the two opposition riders came fast into the first bend of lap two, and high-sided off. His injury is somewhere in the rib/hip area and we await developments.

In the circumstances, which included a 0-8 loss in the eventual running of heat 11, Monarchs did very well to score 58 points. Theo Pijper won his four races and seems to have been boosted by his superb Longtrack result at the weekend. Craig Cook was also unbeaten, and Max Fricke was on a paid maximum from his first four rides before dropping a point in heat 15.

Derek Sneddon contributed 11 from reserve without looking too comfortable, and Jozsef Tabaka had three paid wins. So other than the injuries, the team were impressive.

Rye House were expected to be a threat on recent form, even without Garrity who seems unable to get over his injury problems. None of them really excelled although reserve Kasper Lykke looked impressive at times.

Monarchs have a big KO Cup semi final against Somerset coming up and could certainly do with good news at least from Vissing if not Bates.