Speedway: Diamonds make it 3 out of 3, with win in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Monarchs 44  Newcastle Diamonds 46.

Match report courtesy of our friends at Diamonds media unit.

(Premier Shield 1st leg)

The Sapphire Engineering Diamonds were on a mission last night – to gain revenge over the team they saw as stealing their Premier League Title from under their noses, the Edinburgh Monarchs, and succeeded in fine style to win on the night by a thrilling two points.

Most pleasing was the slow return to form of Rene Bach who has struggled so far this season, but with an excellent win in Heat Five, holding off massive pressure from the rear from Craig Cook in a 2-4 to the Diamonds, levelling the match at 15-15.

Man of the match, Stuart Robson took Heat Seven ahead of one of last season’s sensations, Kalle Katajisto in another 2-4 to put the Tyneside outfit ahead by two at the match’s mid-point.

Cook was none too pleased to lose out earlier and looked set to lose another in the ninth with Mark Lemon leading from the tapes, but Cook cut sharply back coming into the second bend to surprise the Aussie with a hard inside pass for three points in a 4-2 that again levelled the match, 27-all.

Andrew Tully’ s excellent chase behind Lubos Tomicek paid dividends for the Monarchs as he also performed a superb inside pass under the Czech off bend two on the last lap, but with Kyle Newman falling, it was a gifted 4-2 with Edinburgh now leading 37-35 with three races left.

Lemon nudged his way round Katajisto in the 13th for three points with Bach fending off Kevin Wolbert behind for another match-tying 2-4 (39-39), and with Robson winning Heat 14, a shared heat it was all on the last race of the evening to decide the winners of this first leg event.

Robson led from the gate, chased hard by Matthew Wethers and Cook with Lemon behind, but on the first bend of the last lap both Lemon and Cook fell completely separately, with the Diamond taking the opportunity to whip back into the saddle and speed off for a match-winning third placed point in a shock 2-4.

Team Manager George English said afterwards: “This was an excellent all-round performance with Stuart Robson deserving special mentions, but it was also pleasing to see Rene Bach start to score good points again including a win which will only boost his confidence too, and therefore the Diamonds benefit as well. Sweet revenge tonight – very satisfying!”