WEAKENED TEAM TRIED HARD AGAIN

NEWS Sunday 19th August 2007, 8:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Derek Sneddon, Matthew Wethers and Kaj Laukkanen led the fight at Ashfield on Sunday afternoon and had some good moments before the match was lost 38-55.

We even started with a 5-1 as Derek made the start and Matthew eased under Watson to back him up.

The track seemed to have reacted favourably to the heavy rain of yesterday and was riding well. James Cockle liked it well enough to win heat 2, though that was the last scoring the ex-Tigers' man managed on our behalf.

Amongst the other highlights from our point of view was heat 8, in which Derek came from way back, riding fast outside lines then switching to the inside to pass early leader McAllan.

One of Derek's best wins, and throughout he looked controlled. However he should have been involed in an 8-1 heat result in heat 11 when he made the start alongside Kaj and ahead of Trent Leverington.

However Derek was too conscious of wanting to let his partner (on the TR) go ahead, and he allowed Leverington through as well.

We did get a 7-2 and that brought the score to 37-32. The last 4 heats were all home advantages, but we had put up a reasonable display.

Andrew Tully completed a very disappointing weekend by scoring just 1, and Kalle Katajisto isn't yet turning his potential into points.

Full Result Details