Justin leads top Tiger Jason Garrity Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

COMFORTABLE WIN BUT A NIGHT OF DRAMA

NEWS Friday 22nd May 2015, 11:24pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs beat Sheffield by 59-31 on the night and 103-75 on aggregate to ease into the next round of the Knockout Cup, which is a good performance, but the overall feeling after the tie is that our opponents Sheffield had very little luck at all.

Even allowing for the fact that Simon Stead and David Bellego were injured a few weeks ago, their misfortunes continued with the loss of Andre Compton in heat 15 at Sheffield, and then their stand-in captain Ashley Birks after a heavy fall in heat 7 tonight. He has a collar bone injury, hopefully not too serious.

Monarchs rode well with all seven of the side scoring good points, but it would have been more enjoyable to race against a fully fit Sheffield septet.

In fact with Sheffield’s two guests were paired together in the opening pair, they started the second leg with a 5-1! In the first running Lasse Bjerre got a flier which was pulled back, and in the rerun it was Steve Worrall who was away like lightning. Bjerre cut back up the back straight and got into second, with Sam Masters forced out of the way, and from then on there was no way back.

No-one had thought much of the race as any kind of controversy, but something had clearly angered Sam Masters who ran into Bjerre after the race and went on to take things further. It was not obvious what his problem was.

The atmosphere was certainly enlivened as the band of Sheffield travelling fans booed Sam, who was subsequently cheered more loudly than ever by the home support.

We did well to take a 4-2 in heat 2, a comfortable win for Max Clegg. Rob Branford held second for a while but was eventually passed by Josh Bates.

It looked as though Sheffield were away again in heat 3 with Birks and Garrity hitting the front, but Birks locked up which brought down Sedgmen behind him. It was bad luck but probably correct that Birks was ruled out of the rerun.

This time Garrity missed the gate and Monarchs took a 5-1, going ahead in the tie for the first time.

With a weakish rider replacement operating at no. 5, Sheffield had their reserves out again in heat 4, the second of five heats in which they had to track Bates and Sissis. Rob Branford this time rode well to back up Craig Cook for a 5-1.

Bjerre rode well to win heat 5 and stay unbeaten, with Kevin Wolbert getting ahead of Steve Worrall but Sedgmen at the back. Just two points in it on aggregate now.

However with their weakened lineup Sheffield were not going to be able to maintain their challenge. Sam Masters sat with Erik Riss for a 5-1 in heat 6 against Birks, and after making another decent start in heat 7 Birks lifted off the second corner and came a heavy cropper. He did well to get his bike off as Monarchs took a 4-2 but Birks was clearly in some pain.

Monarchs were now 10 ahead and the tie was virtually decided. Over the remaining heats Jason Garrity did very well with his all-action style to win heats 10 and 14, but both Bjerre and Worrall faded out of the picture. Bates had his moments as the two reserves were forced to take 13 rides between them.

Craig Cook was the fastest man on show and completed a paid maximum. Erik Riss won two heats and Kevin Woilbert dropped just a single point in five rides.

There was plenty of entertainment from our reserves as usual. Max Clegg very nearly pulled off an outside pass on Steve Worrall, and did achieve one against Josh Bates.

Rob Branford had two paid wins and rode an outstanding first corner in heat 12 to squeeze past the Sheffield reserves.

Overall the atmosphere was livelier than it has been for a while and we look forward to racing against a full strength Tigers’ team later in the season.