Parker v Tully - thriller Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

12 POINT LEAD FROM THE FIRST LEG

NEWS Friday 21st October 2011, 11:21pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs finished the Armadale season on a high note with an excellent performance, winning by 12 in the curtailed first leg of the Scottish Cup in spite of losing Matthew Wethers after a first bend crash in heat 3.

The home heat leaders Wolbert, Tully and Cook were all in superb form and unbeaten by the opposition, with 10 race wins including several thrilling overtakes by all three.

That left the other home men to pick up a few points to build the advantage. Tom Perry especially caught the eye with some exciting riding, including an overtake of James Grieves which thrilled everyone even though the Tigers' star squeezed past again on the final lap.

The home heat leaders were quite exceptional. Cook came from well back to pass Grieves in heat 4, Tully won a brilliant passing and repassing battle with Parker in heat 5 and the home duo of Wolbert and Cook both passed race leader Parker in heat 13.

We also saw that great effort by Perry in heat 9 to pass Grieves, only to ease off slightly on the final lap and find Grieves coming back to take the second spot behind Tully.

Matthew's injury came on heat 3 when he made a decent start then seemed to tangle up with Morris on the first bend. Matthew's exclusion was debatable but in any case the knock ruled him of the meeting, as did a tumble for David Bellego in his first Armadale ride in heat 2.

Heavy drizzle made track conditions increasingly tricky and the call-off came after heat 13. It did seem that Tigers had a good chance of an 8-1 in heat 14 due to the absence of Wethers, but it never took place.

During the evening it was announced that Monarchs would be back in action at Armadale for the 2012 season.