Tough Night In Store

PREVIEW Friday 27th August 2021, 11:00am

by Jim Milton

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Oh, for a return to a time when Friday nights at Armadale were simple, straightforward and tied up well before the interval. The thrill element might be somewhat watered down (like Armadale needs any more water), but at least the old ticker wouldn't have to suffer the stress of too many heart-in-the-mouth moments.

Of course, I'm only joking. Would we really swap this brand of nail-biting high drama for an easier life? I'll let you know when my blood pressure returns from outer space.

Not for the first time this season a cosy night out at the Dale has ended with the entire stadium on the edge of its seat as everything hinged on a final heat decider.

Yes, that crucial ol' Heat 15 again as Sam and Josh's almost obligatory 5-1 salvaged an, some would say, undeserved draw. The Kings of Kent had proved every inch the tough nut to crack many predicted, emerging, for most of the night, as the dominant force.

Basement Boys in the Championship perhaps, but it was their Scottish hosts who seemed certain to be dethroned. Slow starters, Kent took until Heat 8 to forge ahead, but it was an advantage they would maintain right up until that final showdown.

Fortunately for the Monarchs, a flurry of 3-3's kept them within striking distance of their south coast opponents and, with just that last race to go, they took to the tapes knowing that only a first and second would earn them the consolation of the bonus point. Still, with Masters and Pickering pitched against Scott Nicholls and former team-mate Cameron Heeps, it was huge ask. These were two riders of vast experience who, between them, had taken the chequered flag in six of the fourteen heats run so far. In fact, Nicholls had previously finished ahead of Josh three times and Sam twice, while Cam had beaten both leading Monarchs once.

It was clear that something special would be required from the Edinburgh pair – or, of course, something disastrous from either King. In actual fact, it turned out to be a bit of both.

Seriously, who could have foreseen that a flying Scotty Nicholls, on the cusp of a maximum to end what had been a flawless evening of quality speedway, would fall at the ultimate hurdle when even second place would have secured his team the win. But that's exactly what happened. And the Monarchs duo took full advantage. Leaving Heeps in their wake, they roared towards victory, scoring for their team a fourth consecutive Heat 15 5-1 and, phenomenally enough, an eleventh in their last fifteen meetings to go the distance.

Some might disagree but it seemed more like a point gained than two lost. Of course, it's never ideal to lose ground at any time but, let's face it, you don't face a class act like Nicholls every week. If such a thing existed as a Haynes' Manual for building the ideal rider, you could simply reduce it to a single-sheet pamphlet with The Kent skipper's picture on it. Now approaching his twilight years on the track, he's seen it, done it, worn the race jacket, and on Friday's evidence, has lost none of the verve or desire that has sustained his place at the very top of the sport for so long.

It's fair to say a fit Richie Worrall would probably have benefitted the Monarchs. Certainly, one would have expected his four programme rides to have yielded a better return than the 8 points his rider replacement chums managed, had he ridden them himself. Sadly, Richie will again be absent for the meeting with Poole with Nick Morris the initial guest replacement suffering a concussion at Kings Lynn on Thursday night rider replacement is back in the fold. Elsewhere Luke Crang's knee injury sees him miss out as well – a shame after breaking his duck in fine style against Kent – but once again we appear to have bagged another prodigious stand-in in Drew Kemp.

So, it promises to be another cracking contest come the weekend. With all six heat-leaders capable of miraculous things, I guess the onus is on the others to step up to the plate. For the Pirates that task falls to Stefan Nielsen and recent signing Benjamin Basso as well as reserve pair Ben Cook and Danyon Hume. Meanwhile, Edinburgh will look to Willie Lawson, the in-form Kye Thomson and reserve Nathan Greaves to come to the party with some heavy scoring of their own.

Poole have suddenly exploded onto the play-off scene with a number of impressive displays of late including, of course, the 48-42 triumph over ourselves at Wimbourne Road on August 4th. On that occasion, where funnily enough it took a last gasp 5-1 that earned us the bonus point, it was big hitters Rory Schlein, Stevie Worrall and Danny King who exacted most of the damage - 30 of their winning tally of 48 points were picked up by the trio - on an Edinburgh side whose own heat-leading threesome weighed in with all but nine of their 42 points total.

Now, as we move ever closer to the season's conclusion, the Pirates' summary disposal of Newcastle Diamonds on Wednesday of this week hoisted them three points clear of a formidable chasing pack. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Redcar and Scunthorpe were all sitting equal second points wise prior to Eastbourne's sad demise. A few twists and turns to come though and those 3 away points now lost make maintaining a 100% home record the rest of the way all the more vital.

Full Result Details