For the third meeting in a row Monarchs have come from behind to win and maintain their 100% start to the season. Edinburgh may be struggling with injuries and not always look entirely convincing but they continue to win. This may well be down to team spirit with everyone pulling together. Riders are pulling off shock heat wins when it really matters. The match at Berwick typified the fighting spirit of Monarchs.
With eleven heats gone Monarchs seemed to be drifting to a narrow defeat. Peter Carr was beating everyone out of sight but there was little else going for Edinburgh save some battling rides from Blair Scott and lightning gating from Derek Sneddon. Jan Andersen was distinctly off colour and was easy to pick off when he made a start. Ben Shields was not looking like he would score a point. Phil Morris was steady but not troubling the home heat leaders and Chrsitian Henry was failing to spark.
Heat 12 may have proved to be the turning point with Edinburgh three points down. Monarchs have been vulnerable all season in this heat. Derek Sneddon replaced Ben Shieilds to join fellow reserve Christian Henry against Josef Franc and David McAllan. It appeared as if they had secured a tied heat with the Edinburgh pair holding second and third behind Franc when they collided on the notoious pit bend. Sneddon was excluded and Henry's bike was wrecked. Undaunted Christian came out on Ben Shields's bike a secured a great win from the back.
Heat 13 was also tied but in an unexpected way. The two Czechs flew out of the gate leaving Phil Morris and Peter Carr well behind. That appeared likely to secure a home win but Morris had other ideas. In a sensational display of riding the inside line he carved his way to the front. In heat 14, Jan Andersen gated once more but held off top Bandit David Meldrum to leave Monarchs on a last heat decider.
Peter Carr and Phil Morris lined up on gates 1 and 3 against Meldrum and Rymel. Carr flew out of the gate ahead of Meldrum. Morris repeated his heat 13 heroics to join Carr in a 5-1 to secure a 45-44 win for the Monarchs.
This was one of the most entertaining meetings that Edinburgh have been involved in at Shielfield for years with loads of passing, falls, and even a bit of controversy.
Peter Carr scored 12, Phil Morris 10 paid 12, both from five rides. Blair Scott picked up 7 paid 9 from four and Jan Andersen 8 from four. Chrsitian Henry took 4 from five rides and Derek Sneddon 4 from four. Sneddon could easily have been paid for nine but for a couple of falls on the pit turn. Ben Shields failed to score from three.
David Meldrum was the pick of the home team with 11 points from five rides just ahead of Adrian Rymel and Michal Makovsky. Jsef Franc continued to struggle as does ex-Monarch Will Beveridge. The other former Monarch David McAllan looked useful.
Monarchs are now three points clear at the top of the Northern Group of the Premier National Trophy win nine points.