Speedway: Newcastle lift knockout cup after Tyneside victory

HALLOWEEN on Tyneside last night proved to be anything but a treat for the Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs speedway side.

Defending a wafer-thin five-point first leg advantage accrued at Armadale on Friday, Monarchs Premier League Knockout Cup dream ended in disappointment as Newcastle Diamonds won the deciding tie 49-41 to claim their third trophy of the season 91-88 on aggregate.

It was by no means a horror story for Monarchs but without question the cup slipped from their grasp the moment the rain started to fall at the Lothian Arena in the first match.

Newcastle's riders' were steadfast in the slimy conditions while some of Monarchs leading lights simply switched off.

Monarchs co-promoter John Campbell today conceded as much, saying: "Some of our riders' didn't cope with the rain at all on Friday and ultimately it proved a very costly affair for us, in stark contrast Newcastle rode on as normal."

Monarchs still believed they had the ability and skill to scupper the Diamonds on their arrival at Brough Park and after 12 races they actually led on aggregate.

But they lost a crucial 5-1 in the next race, Newcastle's classy Dane Kenni Larsen made the gate and though Ryan Fisher was neck and neck with Stuart Robson, who was guesting for injured home star Mark Lemon, Robson moved to the outside line and passed Fisher.

This loss left Monarchs needing a 5-1 of their own in heat 15 to claim overall victory.

And Fisher, whose steel shoe came off on the first lap, did his best to bring this about as he amazingly held on to beat Robson, but partner Kalle Katajisto trailed in last and Newcastle were home and hosed.

"It was very disappointing that we were not able to defend our five point first leg lead," said Fisher, "but at least I finished on a high by winning that last race.

"It was never going to be easy against Newcastle who have been on something of a roll recently, but we gave it our best shot and our fans knew that and gave the whole team tremendous support."

That last-heat win was probably the Californian's swansong in Monarchs colours as it looks almost certain he will return to the Elite League next season.

Katajisto, who battled hard for his nine points commented: "We didn't score enough points, simple as that."

His teammate Ashley Morris managed to score two points from reserve and said: "I think we did okay, but just couldn't find the extra points we needed to win the cup."

Monarchs, as they did on Friday, allowed Newcastle's tail-end star Adam McKinna to pick up too many cheap points and his gain in heat four at the expense of an engine failure incurred by skipper Matthew Wethers probably turned the match in the Diamonds' favour, it was a disastrous early blow for Monarchs.

Newcastle's Larsen and fellow countryman Rene Bach were dominant as you would expect round their own track, but the choice of Robson was inspired as he stormed to an unbeaten 14-point paid maximum.

In some ways the contest was about missing riders with Monarchs using rider replacement for Andrew Tully, and Newcastle doing the same for Jason King.

Tellingly Monarchs gained five points from the facility in the first leg but could only scrape three points last night.

Monarchs director Mike Hunter added: "It wasn't really a true head-to-head battle because both sides were missing key personnel but perhaps Newcastle just about deserved their triumph.

"Without a shadow of a doubt track conditions at Armadale on Friday played a huge part in the final outcome and we didn't do enough on the night."

Newcastle: Robson 14, Bach 13, Larsen 12, Sneddon 5, McKinna 4, Lambert 1.

Monarchs: Fisher 11, Katajisto 9, Lawson 9, Wolbert 6, Wethers 4, Morris 2.

" We gave it our best shot and our fans knew that and gave the whole team support"

RYAN FISHER