TIGERS TAMED

NEWS Friday 28th August 2009, 0:48am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Ryan Fisher, Kevin Wolbert and Matthew Wethers masterminded a tremendous victory for the Scotwaste Monarchs against a Glasgow side who surely expected to do better.

Monarchs took all three points, although it was never easy because Monarchs had problems of their own.

Max Dilger picked up a hand injury in heat 1 and struggled through one more ride, Byron Bekker only managed a single point though he was never far off the pace, and Aaron Summers in spite of two wins was pretty disappointing, finishing last in his final three rides.

In spite of that the top three, with a surprise but welcome contribution from Michal Rajkowski in heat 13, pulled us through to a 50-39 win and all three points.

Fisher has never been better. In four of his heats he dominated from the first corner, and in heat 13 just when it was required, he slotted in behind the fast gating Rajkowski to blot out James Grieves, with Shane Parker a distance behind.

And what about Wolbert! Speed and control, and determination, were there in abundance as he hammered in 12+2 in superb style. A real star.

Matthew Wethers as ever was content to play a support role but he was excellent, backing up Wolbert to a heat 3 5-1 over the disappointing Lawson and clinching the match victory in heat 14 against the same man.

James Grieves took a heavy tumble just after the start in heat 15 and had to be replaced. He managed to get to his feet, shaken, but we hope Scotland's no. 1 will be OK.