Edinburgh won a hard fought match against Newcastle Diamonds after a last heat decider at Armadale. As predicted the Armadale specialists in the Newcastle team gave Monarchs their hardest match so far at Armadale since the early season defeat by Workington.
Robert Eriksson blew his engine on the pre-match parade and was forced to ride Blair Scott's second bike. He struggled for speed and failed to win a heat despite making several starts.
Peter Carr, with a 15-point paid maximum, and Kevin Little, with a paid ten point haul from five rides, saw Monarchs through. Support came from right across the team. Robert Eriksson scored seven paid eight from four rides. Will Beveridge and Ross Brady each scored four from four rides. Blair Scott scored seven from five rides and Christian Henry was paid seven from three rides.
The key moment was in heat 14 when Newcastle used a golden double. Jesper Olsen gated but Bjarne Pedersen was stuck at the back behind the team riding Blair Scott and Ross Brady. Then, on bend two of the last lap, the Monarchs pair slipped up and left a yawning gap through which Pedersen sped. There was unsufficent time for Pedersen to pass Olsen but the 7-1 reduced the gap to 44-42 going into the last heat. Peter Carr and Kevin Little wrapped things up with a last heat 4-2. By then the bonus point was lost.
Current Premier League results and tables are as follows:
This win takes Monarchs back to the top of the table after being displaced by Exeter and Sheffield during the last week. A win at Stoke will consolidate that position.