TWO POINTS TO MAKE UP

NEWS Thursday 21st May 2015, 10:07pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs trailed for the whole match at Sheffield tonight, but took a heat 15 5-1 to close the gap to just two, 44-46, and give ourselves a good chance of qualifying in the second leg of the KO Cup tie at Armadale tomorrow (Friday).

We went into that final race six points down and on the opening lap, the very lively Ashley Birks led the way from Kevin Wolbert with Andre Compton wide and Craig Cook inside looking for an opening.

Unfortunately for the Tigers Birks got into difficulty and Compton had to take avoiding action and finished up in the fence. Compton was excluded (?) and we took a maximum advantage in the rerun.

This time it was our top four who kept us in the hunt, with our reserves finding the pace pretty hot until a very good heat 12 ride by Rob Branford, passing Sissis and making room for Wolbert to do the same. Erik Riss was never far away but got baulked a couple of times on the second turn when he looked well placed.

We finished up with a majority of heat winners, four of these going to Owlerton specialist Craig Cook who dropped his only point to Andre Compton in heat 13.

Kevin Wolbert was also excellent with 10+3 and well deserved his heat 15 outing.

Justin Sedgmen took the win in heat 14 and was also involved in the race of the night in heat 7. He was at the back but bravely rounded both Compton and Bates to go into second behind Wolbert, only to be re-passed by Compton.

Unfortunately it seems Andre is likely to miss tomorrow's match after that last heat tumble, leaving the Tigers to find a second guest as they also have Proctor missing.

Their choice of guest at no. 1, Lasse Bjerre, only scored 5 but he has a chance to make up for that in the Armadale leg. He scored 12 on his last visit.

Tonight's meeting was well presented on a good track with no shortage of interest in the racing.

Full Result Details