Edinburgh Monarchs v King's Lynn Stars

An uninspired Monarchs' performance was not good enough to prevent league champions King's Lynn winning at Armadale.

The only real success in the home camp was Derek Sneddon whose 9 points included 2 wins, though Henrik Moller and Matthew Wethers also worked hard for reasonable scores.

Top two Ronnie Correy and Theo Pijper didn't produce the big scores needed to compensate for the team's missing no. 7, and throughout the match Monarchs' gating was generally of the comedy variety.

Against the poorer sides, the home riders can pick off faster gating opponents. Against King's Lynn, that was not the case.

Daniel Nermark had, at his 28th attempt, his first decent Armadale meeting. He did all the hard work round the first two bends, and only Moller in heat 7 managed to maintain a challenge into the latter part of a heat.

James Brundle was also a vitally important contributor for the Stars. Heats 9 and 14 looked on paper likely targets for home heat advantages, but Brundle won them both, each a 4-2 to King's Lynn.

Although Chris Mills only showed up well in the first race, each of the visiting riders achieved something, one of the secrets of their success.

Ronnie Correy's big win in the opening heat, with Sneddon third and Topinka last, was an encouraging start for Monarchs.

However Stars' guest Tomas Suchanek romped away with heat 2, and Matthew Wethers had to fight past Brundle to limit the damage.

Heat 3 was a shocker as the Stars pair raced away. Tully and Pijper floundered and got tangled up in their attempt to mount a challenge.

It looked as though Monarchs might come back to level again as Moller and Wethers led heat 4, but Moller never got up enough speed. He restricted his partner and eventually Paul Lee did well to pass both for an important win.

Topinka was back to form with a heat 5 win, and in heat 6 we did level things up. Sneddon led all the way with Correy happy to sit just behind to ensure the 5-1.

Heat 7 was Moller's chase on Nermark, trying to squeeze through on the inside leaving the turns. Nermark covered it although once or twice it seemed Moller was close to passing.

The 2-point deficit was reversed in heat 8 with Sneddon again leading all the way, this time backed by Wethers.

Heat 9 should have been a chance to build on the advantage, but again it was a chance spurned. Brundle led the way and with Tully challenging on the inside, Pijper was finding it difficult to make a move. Eventually he powered past his partner down the straight with just over a lap left., but this unsettled Tully who fell on the pits turn.

He didn't clear the track in time so there was no chance of a late move by Pijper as the race was awarded.

Heat 10 brought together unbeaten riders Nermark and Correy. Correy made a decent enough start off grid four but found too much traffic when he arrived at the first corner, and was pushed to the back. Thereafter his bike seemed to be dying as the failed to pick up a point, again a disappointing heat loss.

The inside line Moller had used well in heat 7 was even more successful in heat 11 as he shot inside first Topinka, then Brundle for the best win of the night from the home side. This was the third heat for inexperienced stand-in jack Roberts, but Monarchs needed advantages to pull back the Stars' 2-point lead.

In fact they failed to provide another heat winner. Wethers nudged Nermark on the way to the first corner in heat 12, but the Swede still did remarkably well to get round the field for another win.

Henrik Moller tried to come across from gate 4 at the first corner in heat 13, but he finished up hitting the fence as the others swung out. He took an ambulance ride but eventually emerged for the rerun.

Correy had had to discard his Armadale bike by now and couldn't stop Topinka winning off gate one.

It was obvious an advantage was needed from heat 14, but again it was the visitors who made the first turn in front. Wethers battled past Harding, Tully couldn't pick up anything and the Stars led by 4 points going into the final heat.

Nermark held his nerve to complete his maximum and although both Pijper and Correy passed Topinka, it was not enough.

HERMISTON MOTOR CO. MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Derek Sneddon.

Edinburgh Monarchs v King's Lynn Stars

The League Champions are in town this week as the Monarchs go head to head with the Kings Lynn Stars.

The Stars swept all before them last season with a side which basically comprised four heat leaders and three solid backup men. Of course, with success comes the thankless task of rebuilding and the Norfolk side will no doubt be thinking they?ve made a pretty decent attempt at it.

While both Kevin Doolan and Troy Batchelor have headed off to the Elite League (Belle Vue and Poole respectively), Tomas Topinka and Daniel Nermark have stayed put and given the team a powerful looking spearhead.

Topinka is a class act and indeed was one of the very few visitors to beat Peter Carr at Armadale in 2000 (or was it 2001? My mind?s gone blank!), when the sight of 'The Motor' trailing home behind an opponent was as rare as a Simon Stead GP win.

Nermark, meanwhile, makes a swift return to the Lothian Arena after what can only be described as a thoroughly inept guest performance in our colours last week. Of course he?ll easily score double figures this time, of that there?s no doubt, but I guess that?s the nature of the sport?

In addition to the ?strong top two? setup, The Stars have opted for solidity with their remaining five team members. The most likely to score well on Friday would appear to be Paul Lee, who is generally good for around 7 or 8 points around our place. I used to think of him as nothing more than a gater (typified by one evening a few years ago at Swindon (?) when he leapt out the start in heat 8, achieved the fastest time of the night and did nothing else in his other three rides!) but, if I recall correctly, his last Armadale showing was very impressive.

Of the others, Chris Mills and James Brundle have been nothing more than ordinary in recent years but the same cannot be said for Trevor Harding, whose low returns certainly haven?t matched his entertaining and enthusiastic efforts.

Finally, as you will all know, young Aussie John Oliver was badly injured earlier in the year but, as he is the top reserve in the Stars? line-up, they are allowed a PL guest for cover. The man picked for this occasion is Tomas Suchanek, who has recently signed for Mildenhall after being axed by Redcar. Let?s hope he reproduces his Bears? form on Friday!

In the home camp, it?s a big welcome back to skipper Ronnie Correy, who has recovered from his niggling leg injury. He will be backed up at the top end by Theo Pijper and, if these two can come close to matching the points scored by Topinka and Nermark, we should have enough left in the remainder of the tank to see us home (he says confidently!).

Stepping in for Daniele Tessari this week is Buxton youngster, Jack Roberts. This young man has certainly shown promise and has been performing reasonably well at Conference League level. Of course, Premier League will be a huge step up for him but good luck to the lad for this one.

As always, may the best team win...

Line-ups:

Monarchs: Ronnie Correy, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Andrew Tully, Henrik Moller, Jack Roberts, Matthew Wethers.

Stars: Tomas Topinka, Chris Mills, Daniel Nermark, Trevor Harding, Paul Lee, James Brundle, Tomas Suchanek.