GREETINGS FROM UNCLE ‘B’ (LXII)

NEWS Monday 2nd June 2014, 9:37pm

by Brian Gray

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It's been an exhausting but satisfying last few days for all those involved in the Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs circus as the team were guests at Ipswich and Newcastle either side of a home fixture against Glasgow.

Let me tell you, I'm beginning to lose any faith I had in weather apps on my mobile phone. All the way south on the long journey down to Ipswich my screen was telling me that it was going to be a dry evening at Foxhall Road so I was truly surprized that close on the start time I was standing in a fine mizzley rain wondering if my hotel bar was going to see me a little earlier than expected! I watched the racing from up on the second bend, sheltering under cover to programme fill and update report. Not for the first time, we gelled as a team and came away with a couple of league points in our back pocket! It made the late evening refreshment particularly enjoyable!

After a sleep and a scrumptious breakfast, it was back up the road to Armadale to prepare for the visit of the Tigers. It was good (as always) to see so many fans through to support their team and they were certainly in good voice! Every team calling on us so far this season has found us in superb form and it will have to be a good side to run us close!

Next on the fixture list was the eagerly anticipated league match at Brough Park, home to the Newcastle Diamonds. You'll recall, we had a memorable, ney sensational, victory there in the Knockout Cup last June and well, well, well did we not do it again! I believe that, in the course of a meeting, fortune levels itself out and although not everyone will agree with me, I think it did in this match. The determination in the pits was tangable and the riders could hear their supporters' cheers and shouts. Our boys are more than just a bunch of riders with a team bib on. Under captain Derek's leadership they gell as a powerful force, each playing their part in the side! As we know, that takes our run of unbeaten matches to sixteen and we push for seventeen this coming Friday.

We entertain the Sheffield Tigers in the semi-final first leg of the League Cup. They haven't had a win since the middle of April and will hope to beat Glasgow at home this Thursday before heading north to Armadale. We'll be hoping for a decent lead to take to Owlerton for the second leg on the19th. We can't afford to be complacent and underestimate any opposition so bring a friend with you, get behind the lads as usual and enjoy what is now the best live sport in the area! I'll catch you when you come in so be sure to say hello! Meanwhile take care and be good!

Uncle ‘B’