Andersons Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 42 Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs 48 (Premier Trophy)

The match was raced on a universally praised track, even, smooth and perfectly prepared that gave all 14 riders a fighting chance of success, and as a result the chilly fans enjoyed a great speedway match with good action.

For Berwick the new skipper, Adrian Rymel has really found his form now with some excellent and spirited racing, only being headed home once by a Monarch, Matthew Wethers in Heat 13. His fellow Czech Michal Makovsky is also enjoying a grand 2008, again putting in some top class effort to win his points. Norbert Magosi is continuing in his improvements, winning Heat two although taking five rides on this big track tires the Hungarian out somewhat at the moment curtailing his scoring in the latter part of meetings. Guglielmo Franchetti and Tero Aarnio have both shown great flashes of form and what’s there to be brought out over the next few weeks with Adam McKinna still managing one talking point a meeting.

For Edinburgh it has to be admitted the look a solid side with plenty spread out top end talent from Derek Sneddon, William Lawson and Matthew Wethers all contributing two wins each to the Monarchs pool. Thomas Jonasson is another finding his feet but like Berwick’s two, once he finds them there’s sure to be big points to come from him. It was always going to be a close match, a fact obvious from the off in a meeting that had nine shared 3-3 heat results from 15.

HEAT ONE – Skipper Rymel made the best of the 4 gates to take a big lead early on, but his partner Franchetti made a big error on the opening bend almost spinning off on to the dirt but just managed to hold on and keep going to the race’s conclusion in the first share of the spoils. (3-3 /3-3)

HEAT TWO – There was a little motion from Tully just before the tapes went up but allowed to go on. Magosi proved his skills include fast gating as he shot out in front on bend one to lead, although was challenged stiffly by Tully from behind throughout, the Monarch’s youngster proving he’s a powerful and talented performer. (3-3/6-6)

HEAT THREE – Bends one and two saw Lawson and Makovsky virtually glued together but it was Berwick’s Czech who took control down the back straight of that opening lap. Aarnio showed he can pass at Shielfield Park when he sailed round Jonasson on the fourth bend of lap one before the Monarch retired from the heat but Berwick it was who broke score in their favour first. (4-2/10-8)

HEAT FOUR – Wethers just avoided touching the tapes by a millimetre in a race where Berwick’s Conference guest Blair made a massive gate to lead, but the wily Tully started to lay the pressure on from the off, closing in tightly on Blair, almost taking passes all race, but not quite, until this excellent race between two young Scots saw Tully sneak through with 6 inches of the race to go and take a superb win for Edinburgh, but Blair was worth the win and more for his riding. (3-3/13-11)

HEAT FIVE – was another halved race with Makovsky again away from a jet propelled gate with the Monarch’s two tucking in behind for the other 3 points although Sneddon briefly made a significant challenge on the leader late on the 1st lap. Aarnio, whilst at the back, made some good chasing moves behind his Monarch opponents. (3-3/16-14)

HEAT SIX – Rymel and Franchetti hit the front first but some hard racing from Wethers saw him take the lead by bend two on lap one only for Rymel to open his throttle that bit more and race round Wethers on the back straight to regain the lead. Franchetti was on a certain one pointer until his bike packed in on the final bend of the race gifting the point to Summers. (3-3/19-17)

HEAT SEVEN – Needed a re-run after a first bend crash caused when the chasing Blair caught the rear wheel of Jonasson bringing both down in a heap resulting in an exclusion for Blair, but thankfully both rider are fine. In the re-run Lawson went from 3rd to 1st on bend two at the same time Aarnio passed Jonasson too but it was well strung out after that and the match was all square again. (2-4/21-21)

HEAT EIGHT – Again there seemed to be movement from Tully at the gate but ended up at the rear on bend one. Sneddon shot round Franchetti on the second bend of the opener. Tully again out in some excellent effort chasing hard at the beck behind McKinna. (3-3/24-24)

HEAT NINE – Aarnio had a brief loss of power in a good position on the opening bend of the race relegating him to last place despite roaring back into the race. Up front Wethers rode a classic race to take down the colours of Makovsky. (3-3/27-27)

HEAT 10 – saw another re-run following a very tight 1st bend with both Bandits easing out ahead of the Monarchs with Lawson making up a lot of ground with some big speed until Franchetti fell on bend 3 for which he was excluded from the re-run. In the re-run Rymel became “scissored” out by the two Monarchs but the Czech eased round Lawson on bend four taking a great lead with a great move taking eventually a well deserved win. Jonasson punctured on the last lap. (3-3/30-30)

HEAT 11 – had it’s points awarded on lap 2 when the two Monarchs (Fisher and Sneddon) were well in control out front following a brief Magosi challenge when Blair fell on the second lap causing the race to be halted and awarded. Again the faller was fine after the event but it did give a vital break in scoring in favour to the visitors. (1-5/31-35)

HEAT 12 – saw Magosi out again for the excluded Mckinna who failed to appear on track before the two minute allowance ran out but the Hungarian was tiring and ended up last (3-3/34-38)

HEAT 13 – had Blair excluded on two minutes this time and Magosi in again and even more tired at the back once more. Wethers expertly held an enforced wide line on bend 1, capitalising on the wide fast line on bend 2 to shoot out ahead of the field in a fine visiting win. (2-4 / 36-42)

HEAT 14 – was the clinching race for Edinburgh who only needed to restrict Berwick to a 4-2 to ensure victory, but they went several better with Lawson popping out from the gate to lead and win with Tully taking 3rd place over McKinna to assure an away victory. (2-4/38-46)

HEAT 15 – gave Rymel the chance to sign off a great night with another win from the gate although was pressured highly all race long by Wethers again making for some fine entertainment as Makovsky relegated Lawson to the rear. (4-2 / 42-48)

Andersons Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 42

1. Adrian Rymel © 3,3,3,2,3 = 14
2. Guglielmo Franchetti 0,R,2,Fx = 2
3. Michal Makovsky 3,3,2,3,1 = 12
4. Tero Aarnio 1,0,1*,2 = 4+1
5. Greg Blair (g) 2,Fx,Fx,N2 = 2
6. Norbert Magosi ® 3,2,1,0,0,N2 = 6
7. Adam McKinna ® 0,1*,1*,N2,0 = 2+2

Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs 48

1. Ryan Fisher 1*,2,2*,1 = 6+2
2. Derek Sneddon © 2,1*,3,3 = 9+1
3. Thomas H. Jonasson R,1,1*,2 = 4+1
4. William Lawson 2,3,2,3,0 = 10
5. Matthew Wethers R,2,3,3,2 = 10
6. Aaron Summers ® 1*,1*,0,N = 2+2
7. Andrew Tully ® 2,3,0,1*,1 = 7+1