Edinburgh versus Sheffield

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So, after what seems an awful long time, Edinburgh win again. And a reasonably comfortable win over the Yorkshire Tigers it seems to have been (53-40). But I can't help wondering why the Monarchs gave a fifth ride to a reserve guest when the meeting was already won, instead of giving their own Katajisto his fourth programmed ride?

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This was actually a very entertaining meeting starting with a tremendous race in heat 1 between Stancl and Ashworth for second place through to a fabulous race from Lee Complin in heat 15. This guy has got to be one of the very top riders in the PL next year (assuming he's still riding in the PL). His heat 15 win was pure class.

Edinburgh were much better and more solid than they have been. What a difference it makes when you produce 11 race winners! George Stancl was OK and was prepared to sacrifice his own position by team riding with Derek and Matty. Derek Sneddon dropped just one point - to Complin of course while the same can be said of Kai Laukkanen. It's hard to believe that Andrew Tully was a Conference League rider last year when you see him producing the kind of race he did in heat 14 while Matthew Wethers is looking better and better now that he's beginning to make a start or two. At reserve Ben Taylor impressed me immensely. Good style, comfortable on the bike he's one for the future but Kalle Katajisto still finds himself fighting from the back in every race.

Sheffield were a bit of a mixed bag. Ricky Ashworth had one of his best meetings at Armadale and made some blinding starts which caused problems for the home boys. He was competitive all night and seemed more at home than on previous visits. But what can you make of Ben Wilson? It's sad to see a rider who was one of the most promising youngsters not so long ago turn in a woeful performance like this. His two points came at the expense of Edinburgh's two rookie reserves.

Lee Complin took a couple of rides to get dialled in then took off! What a rider; what a prospect for next year! Joel Parsons has been better at Armadale but gave it plenty of effort. The only Edinburgh 1-5 rider he beat though was Andrew Tully. Paul Cooper made some great starts and looked much better than on previous visits to Armadale. Unfortunately for him you don't ride Armadale like you ride Sheffield and, although he scored 9+1, they were all at the expense of the Edinburgh reserves. David Speight gave it everything but was way off the pace although I thought he got better as the match progressed without actually threatening anyone.

I hope that Andre Compton, James Birkinshaw and James Cockle are back soon. It would be so unfortunate for the Tigers if their play-off push were to be derailed by injuries. I wonder too how Paul Cooper moving into the main body of the team from today will affect their scoring?