Another monster win

REPORT Saturday 4th August 2018, 1:41am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Not many people would believe that having scored 69 against Redcar last week, we would come up with 65 points against Scunthorpe tonight, especially after the Scorpions had won impressively away from home against Sheffield on Thursday. But the Staggs Bar Monarchs were unstoppable again.

Home captain Erik Riss said "It was an easy win again and three maximums. The track is much grippier than it was at the start of the season and I think that suits us. Ricky and I have always asked for it to be like that, and now Josh and Richie like it as well. I believe we are now almost unbeatable at home."

Whereas the Redcar match had been, by common consent, quite an enjoyable fixture with a fair bit of entertainment, the same could not be said of tonight's match with a pretty feeble show from the opposition. Jake Allen was their only strong performer though admittedly they enjoyed little luck with Jason Garrity ruled out due to a road accident, Gino Manzares crashing out in his second ride and of course Stefan Nielsen already missing. Team manager Dave Peat didn't know which way to turn.

We should however concentrate on the home side. They are in really stunning form and certainly enjoying the conditions which are being provided for them. Erik Riss (rocketing from the starts), Richie Worrall (incredibly determined round the first turn and dominating races from there) and Ricky Wells (gliding through untroubled) were all maximum scorers for the second week running. Josh Pickering nearly made it to the same achievement but could not catch Allen in heat 15.

Palovaara and Andersson again were very good also, and Max Clegg was trying different lines and nearly caught Steve Worrall in one heat. It was again virtually a complete performance.

We've had the track quite grippy and well watered the past two weeks but you have to wonder how the home riders can adapt instantly and without exception, while the last two visiting teams have found things so difficult. Steve Worrall in particular struggled tonight, being passed by both Monarchs in heat 1 and then falling on the second bend after gating in his second ride. He was announced for heat 15 (to everyone's surprise) but didn't appear.

Ricky Wells summed things up post meeting: "A track like that separates the men from the boys. And we have a team full of men."

Full Result Details