Sam and Nick straining every muscle in heat 15 Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

ALL THREE POINTS GAINED IN A FINE MATCH

NEWS Friday 24th April 2015, 11:59pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs knew that they needed a victory tonight against Glasgow, and they also needed to prevent the Tigers picking up a point to give themselves the best possible chance of reaching the League Cup semi-finals. A thrilling last heat 4-2 after a tense and exciting match ensured the objectives were reached.

Monarchs had ten heat winners and always held the upper hand, but even so Glasgow were close enough to have gained that vital point for most of the meeting. They went into that last race just six down and needing a shared race to get a point.

Both teams lost points they should have gained. From the home team’s viewpoint, yet another blown motor (this time for Justin Sedgmen in heat 8) and two falls by Erik Riss cost points. Riss looks more impressive each week, but he slid off when third in heat 5, and even more frustratingly fell in heat 14 when comfortably on a 5-1 with Rob Branford. The two of them just got too close together.

On the Glasgow side, they suffered a TR mishap very similar to Berwick’s last Friday. Smith and Summers led the way in heat 7, on a 7-1 against Sam Masters, but in trying to get Summers to the front to gain an extra point they slowed too much and gave Sam the opportunity to pass both of them for the win!

Sam had also had a thrilling win from the back against Nick Morris in heat 4, and Morris was again on the receiving end as Craig Cook passed him brilliantly on the outside in heat 6, joining Sedgmen for a 5-1.

That heat put Monarchs ten ahead but they were pegged back to six with heat wins from Morris, Summers and key reserve Palovaara. With three races to go Monarchs needed to add another two points to their advantage.

You have to take your hat off to Nick Morris, he is a brilliant Armadale performer and he led home Cook and Masters in heat 13, even though both of the Monarchs’ men threatened to pass him at one stage.

Heat 14 should have been a home 5-1 till Riss fell, and then we had Morris and Summers lining up against Cook and Masters with Monarchs needing a 4-2 to get the result they needed.

The home pair gated but Morris so nearly came between them to take the lead. Cook just held him off with a great ride, and Masters just missed out in a great battle for second, but it was just enough to get the points needed to take Monarchs to the top of the section.