LATE FIGHTBACK FALLS JUST SHORT

NEWS Sunday 3rd April 2011, 8:34pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

We scored a heat 12 7-2 and a heat 13 5-1 to shock the Diamonds who thought they were cruising, but in the end we went down 48-45 in the Premier Shield second leg.

Just one heat winner in the first 11 races tells it's own story - and that was our guest Robert Branford in heat 2.

We were gating poorly, and any time we did get our noses in front the home heat leaders were hitting the outside of the second turn and storming past. Bach, Robson and Lemon were all unbeaten in their first three races.

It all changed at heat 12. Against the vulnerable home pair of Tomicek and Worrall, Andrew Tully took an easy 6, with Ashley Morris grabbing the point.

That might have been expected, but heat 13 wasn't! Kevin Wolbert flew from the gate and won easily with Kalle holding off Bach and Lemon well back.

Craig Cook tried everything to keep us in the hunt, leading Robson for three laps in heat 14, but he lifted coming off the fourth turn and allowed the home man through.

In the final heat Kalle rode an excellent race to win and ensure that none of the home men finished unbeaten.

We can blame our opening night home display for the aggregate loss but in the end, at 3- point loss at Newcastle is not too bad a performance. We just need to get going a bit earlier!

Full Result Details