Celebrating the win Image Credit: Jack Cupido

Will 14 points be enough?

REPORT Saturday 13th July 2019, 1:25am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs head down to Newcastle on Sunday with a 14-point advantage (52-38) after an absorbing first leg of the Knockout Cup semi-final at Armadale.

Monarchs' captain Ricky Wells reflected on the match afterwards, saying "It was a good overall team performance. Heepsie was on it, making some great overtakes.

"We are a lot weaker without Josh Pickering especially at home. Whatever his average is he is much better than that. It's good to have him back."

It was the kind of match we all want to watch – both teams giving their all, fortunes ebbing and flowing, some surprise results and some great overtaking. As usual messers Heeps and Pickering were to the fore in the latter category.

When Ricky Wells and Victor Palovaara jumped out of the start in heat 1 it looked like a strong start for Monarchs, but Victor lost it on the second bend in a manner reminiscent of the first heat in last year's cup semi!

So it wasn't until heat 3 that Monarchs went ahead, Josh Pickering on his return after six weeks battling through inside Matthew Wethers to join Joel Andersson for a 5-1.

Cameron Heeps won heat 4 and Connor Coles got the benefit of the doubt after he came down during a tussle for the point with Danny Phillips. So that was the lead up to six but Newcastle knocked two off in the next heat, in which Pickering had to work hard to pass Matthew Wethers but didn't have enough time left to catch Steve Worrall.

A 5-1 in heat 6 raised home hopes, Wells and Palovaara heading Clegg with Ostergaard well back. This was one of the few heats in which Clegg was ineffective.

Wethers and Worrall won the next two heats and the Diamonds again took a 4-2 in a disappointing heat 9 for the home side. Joel Andersson was nowhere as Pickering again had to fight from the back to get second from Ostergaard.

So just six points in it, extended to 8 in heat 11 when Wethers cut past Palovaara to prevent a maximum advantage.

Heat 11 was an outstanding ride by Cameron Heeps who battled round the outside of first Steve Worrall and then Max Clegg for a great win.

William Lawson's gating has been holding him back but he suddenly shot out the gate in heat 12, backing Pickering to a 5-1 and holding off Max Clegg.

So it was a 12 point lead with three to go. Heeps made a great start in heat 13 but Ricky Wells, unbeaten to that point, had the worst gate (inside) and could not improve on fourth place.

Heat 14 looked ominous against Wethers and Clegg but amazingly Lawson and Andersson gated, with Joel working hard and taking the win while William kept Matthew at the back.

So a 14-point advantage – could it be extended in the final race? The answer was no as Steve Worrall gated to take his third win of the night in spite of the best efforts of Heeps and Wells.

So 52-38 it was after a thoroughly enjoyable match. All of the home side scored well with Heeps the standout with 13, plus the ride of the night to pass Worrall and Clegg. Good to see Lawson make a couple of starts and show how effective he could be. And of course Josh Pickering will never relinquish his "Entertainer" tag.

The Diamonds were indebted to a rock-solid show by Steve Worrall, some crafty stuff from Matthew Wethers and a predictably strong showing from no. 6 Max Clegg. On the other hand guest Coty Garcia had a very poor night standing in for Lasse Bjerre.

It's all to play for on Sunday.