TITLE-CHASING Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs gave joint leaders Somerset Rebels the fright of their lives in last night's top-of-the-table speedway clash at the Oak Tree Arena.
No-one gave Monarchs a hope of running the Rebels close round their own track, but the Capital outfit produced a sensational second-half fightback to go down narrowly 48-44. And, without a shadow of a doubt, this is a huge psychological boost for Mo
narchs ahead of tomorrow's return clash at Armadale.
Monarchs boss John Campbell hailed his side and said: "I'm very pleased with our performance, this was one of our best away displays of the season."
Monarchs' recovery over the latter part of the match was nothing short of remarkable bearing in mind they were 10-2 down after just two races. And Somerset surely believed they were going to coast to another 60-point haul at home when they applied the screws and opened up a 14-point lead in heat eight.
Campbell admitted losing 5-1s in the opening couple of skirmishes was disappointing, but added: "I'm sure when Somerset won those first two races with maximum points they thought it would be a big morale booster for them. It didn't turn out that way. It proved to be a big morale booster for us.
"We took gates 2 and 4 in the first heat as we thought these were the best positions to win races from. It didn't work out for us – yet both these gates did prove advantageous over the rest of the meeting."
Somerset gaffer Mike Golding, despite seeing his rampant squad chastened in front of their own fans, said: "The result may have been close but we have done the hard work in winning at home. Edinburgh now have to do that on Friday."
Aussie Matthew Wethers, who scored ten points, which included two race wins, led Monarchs' recovery after their nightmare beginning when he took the chequered flag in heat three. This got the whole team going.
Teammate Ryan Fisher was given a tactical ride in heat nine but finished second behind Rebels ace Emil Kramer. Nonetheless, Monarchs grabbed a welcome 5-3 advantage. Guest Mark Lemon won heat 11 and Thomas Jonasson triumphed in the following race.
This brace of 4-2 successes brought Monarchs to within eight points of their hosts with three races left.
However, the next two heats were shared and this clinched the match for Somerset.
Monarchs, however, did finish on a high by grabbing a 5-1 in the heat 15 top-scorers race, courtesy of Fisher and Wethers, who followed his partner home after Rebels star Jordan Frampton lost a chain on the last lap.
Fisher rode brilliantly for his 14-point tally and easily beat Somerset's in-form Jason Doyle in his first race.
Fisher, who has been piling up double-figure scores guesting for Stoke Potters of late, said: "I'm really pleased with the way I'm riding now.
"I've got a new set of clutch plates and this has helped my gating. I've been struggling with my starts all season, but now I'm quicker out of the traps and this makes the job so much easier."
Despite taking the wind out of Somerset's sails, Monarchs director Mike Hunter said: "We won't take Somerset lightly on Friday. But on this showing, I think we should win without too much trouble. We really rocked Somerset and have given them a real fright. No team has come anywhere close to them this season.
"Rye House scored 38 in the Cup recently and that was considered an excellent effort round Somerset."
Monarchs skipper Derek Sneddon, whilst picking up just three points, couldn't be faulted for endeavour on a track which doesn't rate among his favourites.
The Falkirk rider lost a few points on the line, and with more luck could easily have doubled his finally tally.
Doyle was tops for Somerset with 11 points, with Kramer collecting nine.
And in what proved a solid scoring effort, the remaining four Rebels all posted seven points apiece.
Somerset Rebels: Doyle 11, Kramer 9, Frampton 7, Kroger 7, Katt 7, Werner 7.
Edinburgh Monarchs: Fisher 14, Wethers 10, Lemon 8, Jonasson 6, Sneddon 3, Tully 3.
The full article contains 713 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
