Defeat Ends Championship Shield Hopes

REPORT Saturday 4th May 2019, 9:25pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs bowed out of the Championship Shield after a 54-36 defeat to group topping Berwick Bandits at Shielfield Park on Saturday night.

The result which guarantees the Bandits a semi final place either as group winners or at worst as best runner up from the group stages was never really in doubt as the Bandits were continually sharper from the starts and on a track that was almost impossible to pass on this was key.

The one Monarch who did manage to make at least a few starts was Ricky Wells who said after 'The track was pretty sketchy early on although that was nobody's fault they had ripped it up then got a shower no one was expecting after that there was only one line and you knew the result by the backstraight of the the 1st lap. The teams performance wasn't really very good we were miles behind early on we fought back a little later on but it was too late'

The Monarchs did actually take the lead early on when Luke Ruddick made the jump in heat 2, partner William Lawson able to join him at the front after Coty Garcia's bike gave up the ghost entering the 2nd lap.

The lead was to be short lived though the Bandits gaining two maximum advantages in the next two races and the Monarchs could never get themselves back in the match.

Further advantages were to come in heats 5,6,7 and 8 for the home men each time with the race decided by the exit of the 2nd bend and at this stage the Borderers advantage was 18 points and it looked like a really heavy defeat could be in store for the Monarchs.

As it was the Monarchs sharpened up the rest of the way. Heat 9 saw Wells brought in as a tactical substitute but neither he nor partner Cameron Heeps could hit the front and Bandits guest Matty Wethers took the spoils. This race probably magnifying the importance of making the start as the previously untouchable Dany Gappmaier trailed in last half a straight behind the field after missing out.

The next heat did see some excitement as youngster Leon Flint who was excellent throughout rounded Lawson on bends 3 and 4 of the 2nd lap. The Bandits losing out on points when partner Aaron Summers suffered mechanical gremlins on the last lap allowing Joel Andersson to take victory.

The Monarchs then had another highlight in heat 13 as Wells and Heeps took maximum points but at this stage it was largely damage control as the Armadale men meekly excited the competition despite having a home match against Glasgow still to race.

Full Result Details