Edinburgh Monarchs v Isle of Wight Islanders

REPORT Friday 6th June 2008, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Once again Monarchs piled up a huge score but managed to be highly entertaining in doing so.

Isle of Wight were the unlucky victims this week, and they are not Armadale specialists, but they did keep trying to stem the tide, mostly without success.

The opening heat was very interesting and had three different leaders - first Gathercole who was speedily relegated to the rear as Topinka took over, only to be passed by Bunyan. Fisher then came past his partner for a late challenge which failed narrowly.

That proved to be the only Islanders' race winner. Tully won heat 2 with James Holder turning in a good Armadale debut ride, then Tully breezed off again in heat 3. Derek Sneddon was also in contention but lost second to Phillips by drifting too wide.

Matthew Wethers comfortably won his opener though again Holder looked tidy, holding off Aaron Summers for the second time.

Just 6 up with Islanders' best pair coming out, we decided that Summers would have to forgo his normal r/r ride and handed it to Tully instead.

He duly powered to the front, and did it again after Gathercole had caused a stoppage by falling on the pits turn trying to match Tully's pace.

We hadn't recorded a 5-1 in the first 5 races but we made up for that by taking six in a row!

Fisher and Topinka heade Stojanowski and Bargh, Wethers and Tully did likewise against Holder and Phillips, both comfortable.

Then the aggressive Gathercole gated in heat 8 only for Summers to come strongly under him leaving the fourth bend, pushing through down the back straight. Fisher decided the gap was still there as he entered the next corner, though that might have been debatable - nevertheless he came through just as Gathercole got his foot out of the way.

The visiting Aussie's reaction brought him some derision from the crowd, which he later seemed to play up to.

Derek Sneddon got himself organised to take heat 9 with Wethers backing up skilfully. This was an interesting heat because Stojanowski and Bargh made the start.

Fisher and Topinka did it again in heat 10, and even with Bunyan on a TR in heat 11 it was another comfortable 5-1 for Wethers and Tully.

Glen Phillips was excluded twice on 2 minutes in heat 12 so Bargh was left alone against Sneddon and Summers, but at least he managed to split them.

Bunyan held off Wethers in heat 13 behind Topinka to halt Matthew's unbeaten run, then we had another manager trying a forlorn TS as Corey Gathercole took the 15 metre position. Against Fisher and Tully he didn't have an earthly, and all he managed was a bit more banter with the crowd post-race.

Tully and Fisher went out again for heat 15, and once again Ryan was content to play second fiddle as Andrew took his score to 21 amidst great acclaim.

HERMISTON MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Andrew Tully.

Full Result Details