Sheffield Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs

REPORT Thursday 17th August 2006, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

A 30-point defeat scarcely sounds a good result, but our performance at Owlerton provided a fair amount of entertainment.

On arrival at the stadium we found that the match was in doubt, but everyone agreed that putting track repairs in motion was a better option than finding a restaging date. It was agreed eventually to take off much of the wet dirt and that a start at 8.15pm was feasible.

The weather was actually fine by this time and we even had a parade. We then saw Theo make the gate in heat 1, being then passed by Ashworth but heading Ben Wilson. Daniele stopped early in the heat.

Heat 2 was an excellent ride by Derek who gated and rode mid-track, holding off the hard-pressing Cooper for all four laps.

Matthew split Legault and Sanchez in heat 3 but Henrik was well tailed off.

Derek gained another good second place in heat 4 though it was the start of a depressing night for William, finding the no. 5 position hard to cope with once again.

The next two heats were home 5-1's, as Sheffield established firm control. Theo held second for a bit in heat 5 but Legault barged past on the second lap.

No-one could get anywhere near Andre Compton in heat 7, but Matthew gated second and Henrik blasted off the second bend to go from last to second, resulting in a shared heat.

It was mainly the reserves we were getting points off, and that was the case again in an exciting heat 8. Derek again showed his gating prowess and led for the first three laps, with Daniele trying some thrilling outside blasts. At one point he very nearly rounded both Wilson and Benji Compton, just running out of room against the fence.

In the closing stages Ben Wilson took Derek on the outside for a fine win.

Once again William failed to make an impression in heat 9 and the deficit was now 20.

We saw the best of Matthew in heat 10 with some exciting outside riding. At times he seemed set to pass race leader Wilson, and he did manage top beat Ashworth who came from last to pass Henrik.

We had been holding back the TRs, and Theo appeared in black and white in heat 11, hoping to extend his excellent run of TR successes. However a hesitant first corner had him floundering behind Andre Compton and Cooper, and it took Daniele to save the 1-5 with a tremendous outside move to pass his partner and Cooper. He may not have scored many but the Italian is showing plenty of determination.

Matthew took the next TR and combined with Derek to record our first race advantage behind Sanchez. Matthew had to force his way through from the rear to avoid a double TR failure.

Heat 13 was the usual washout from our point of view, but we saw Henrik perk up to become the first to beat the lively Legault in heat 14.

For the second away match running, Sean Stoddart had to go out in heat 15 as only Matthew of the eligible candidates would take it on. This was a blot on an otherwise acceptable display and the riders will have to realise they have a job to do for 15 heats, not 14.

HALMOND ENGINEERING MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Theo Pijper

Full Result Details