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Edinburgh Monarchs v Mildenhall Fen Tigers
Premier League, 11 August 2006
Armadale Stadium, Edinburgh

Edinburgh 44
1Theo Pijper23333 ..140
2Daniele Tessari0Fx11. ..20
3Matthew Wethers231*Fx. ..61
4Henrik Moller1*022. ..51
5William Lawson1*1310 ..61
6Sean Stoddart000.. ..00
7Derek Sneddon32321* ..111
Mildenhall 46
1Jason Lyons31*222 ..101
3Daniel King33223 1*.141
4Jason King02*01*3 ..62
5Brent Werner31*30. ..71
6James Brundle11*220 1071
7Jordan Frampton200.. ..20

* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).

With Theo Pijper declaring himself fit after damaging tendons in his leg at Berwick last Saturday Edinburgh were able to track a full strength side. Daniele Tessari made his home debut for the Monarchs having replaced Rusty Harrison who has now rejoined Workington. Mildenhall were without the injured Jon Armstrong and used R/R at number 2 in his place..

Edinburgh went into this match looking to pull back the 11 points by which they lost at Mildenhall. However there was never any chance of that happening. Over the first seven heats the Monarchs looked exactly what they are – a bottom of the league side. On an ultra-slick Armadale track it was the visitors who looked much more at home with some slick gating and, although the home side made more of a fist of it over the second half of the meeting, Mildenhall never looked like losing.

Mildenhall drew first blood with an opening heat 2-4 when Jason Lyons just managed to hold off Theo Pijper with Brundle third. The next three heats, won from the gate each time, were all shared taking the score to 11-13.

Heats 5 and 6 went the same way. So slick was the track that after Matthew Wethers got to the front off the second bend in heat 5 even Jason Lyons gave up the chase being content to sit behind his partner, James Brundle, for a shared race. In heat 7 the Monarchs slipped six points in arrears when the two Kings raced off to a 1-5 with William Lawson unable to mount a challenge to the visiting pair. In heat 8 Edinburgh at last managed a heat advantage. In the first running of the race Daniele Tessari and Derek Sneddon headed off for a 5-1 but the race was called back after Daniel King fell on the first bend. In the rerun Derek Sneddon just held on to win on the run in blocking Daniel King’s outside run to the line rather forcefully. Tessari took third place and the 4-2 produced a score of 22-26.

Another massive gate by Brent Werner produced an easy win for the American in heat 9 for a shared race but Edinburgh clawed another two points back in heat 10. Theo Pijper, by far the best rider on show, won from Daniel King and Daniele Tessari took third place for a 4-2. William Lawson came to life in heat 11 with a good gate and determined first bend run to see off Jason Lyons and Jason King for a 3-3 but Edinburgh slipped four points behind again in heat 12. Matthew Wethers fell on the pits bend as the Fen Tigers roared off for a 1-5 and the race was stopped. In the rerun Derek Sneddon split the visiting pair of Daniel King and James Brundle to limit the damage to a 2-4 which took the score to 34-38.

Heat 13 was the best race of the night. Theo Pijper cut back inside Jason Lyons to lead down the back straight with William Lawson coming up beside Lyons on the inside. The three riders exchanged positions but eventually Pijper pulled away from Lyons who did likewise to Lawson. The 4-2 gave the Monarchs a glimmer of hope but they were disappointed to see Jason King roar from the tapes for a comfortable win to keep the Fen Tigers in front at 41-43 going into the last race. Again Pijper was too good for Lyons and Daniel King but the two Mildenhall riders settled into second and third place with Lawson tailed off at the back for the 3-3 which gave the visitors victory.

Match Report by Merlin