Matthew back on song Image Credit: Mike Bishop

SUPERB WIN AGAINST THE LEADERS

NEWS Friday 20th April 2012, 11:59pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs performed superbly in a thrilling meeting tonight to beat section leaders Workington by 54-39 in one of the most entertaining meetings seen for a long time.

It was such a turnaround from last week’s disappointing defeat to Redcar that Scott Wilson asked John Campbell if he had been having some harsh words with the riders. John said “We never really have harsh words, just a bit of banter, because to be honest the riders know what they have to do.

“We built this team to be solid and tonight against a side many people thought would win, they have performed very, very well indeed.”

The Comets were restricted to just three race winners although one of them was a 6-point tactical ride. Starlets Adam Roynon and Kyle Howarth who have starred in the Comets’ great start to the season both struggled and only Rene Bach really caused the home side any problems, though former Monarch Rusty Harrison tried very hard.

For Monarchs Andrew Tully won four races by big margins and only lost out in a tactical heat 6 to Rusty Harrison. Theo Pijper had a bike problem in heat 5 but was otherwise unbeaten, and Craig Cook also dipped out in just one heat. Cook’s brilliant riding against Bach in heats 13 and 15 was amongst the many highlights on a great night of speedway.

Captain Matthew Wethers returned to something like his best form with 9 points, a welcome relief after the struggles he has had recently.

Micky Dyer had a great win from the back in heat 2 and Derek Sneddon beat Rusty Harrison to win heat 8 at a point when it seems the Comets might be mounting a comeback.

On this form Monarchs would not fear many teams at Armadale.