Monarchs mount fightback to clinch fine win at Redcar

Monarchs' Erik Riss and Ryan Fisher take on Redcar Bears. Pic: Colin Poole

Monarchs triumphed 48-45, an outcome which seemed highly improbable after making an appalling start to the match.

The Capital outfit were 10-2 behind after just two heats, surrendering 5-1s in them both. And they fell ten points in arrears after Redcar grabbed a 4-2 in the sixth race. This prompted Monarchs to hand Ryan Fisher a tactical outing in the seventh race which he won in great style and, with Erik Riss following his partner home, Monarchs pinched a whopping 8-1 advantage to cut their deficit to just three points. They narrowed that to just a single point, 26-25, in the following race with a 4-2 from Mark Riss and reserve Dan Bewley.

But Redcar hit back with a 4-2 of their own in the ninth race to go three points clear. However, Monarchs began to get their act together and took the lead for the first time in the match, 35-34, with a 5-1 from skipper Sam Masters and Mark Riss in heat 11.

A 4-2 in the next from Erik Riss and Max Clegg opened up a three-point gap for the visitors and that was enough to hand victory to Monarchs with the final three heats all shared, Masters making absolutely sure by taking the chequered flag in the heat-15 top scorers race.

It was a solid scoring display from Monarchs with Fisher picking up 14 points from five rides and Masters chipping in with 13 from his five starts.