Sam was in superb form Image Credit: Steve Brock

Pipped By The Bandits

NEWS Saturday 23rd July 2016, 10:27pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs were pipped in the third semi-final of the Fours at Peterborough today, losing out by a point to Berwick after a great tussle.

The two northern sides left their southern rivals Ipswich and Rye House trailing. The final score was Berwick 21, Edinburgh 20, Rye House 17, Ipswich 14.

In recent years we have become so used to seeing our side always do enough in the closing stages, but for once we could not pull it off tonight.

We were two points ahead of the Bandits after nine races, with Sam having won his third race. However in spite of great efforts we only managed to score one point in the last three heats, while Berwick picked up four, and we were out.

In heat 10 Ryan Fisher had to contend with an aggressive ride by Barker and by the time he had shaken him off, could not catch Robson and Matthew Wethers up ahead.

In each of the last two heats, Erik Riss and Kevin Wolbert tried to pick up drive off the outside to pick off the single point we probably needed but neither could make it.

So the Bandits go through and well done to them. They will race seeded Peterborough plus Workington and Plymouth in the final. There will be three Monarchs involved in that, Craig Cook, Theo Pijper and Matthew Wethers.

It was a long day but without too many incidents, and the track while a bit slick for the best of the Showground action to be seen, held up pretty well.

In the opening semi, Glasgow seemed certain to go through and led all the way, but even with a three point lead going into their last heat they were pipped by Workington. Hansen won the heat with Aaron Summers pushed to the back, and the Comets went through on race wins.

The second semi was well won by Plymouth. Top riders of the day were Masters and Lasse Bjerre with three wins each, followed by Hansen, Jorgensen, Robson and Howarth on 8 each.

Our representatives in the consolation individual event tomorrow will be Ryan Fisher and Erik Riss. Fisher, Wolbert and Masters of course will ride at Vastervik on Tuesday in the second World Cup qualifying meeting.