Last Gasp Monarchs Take The Win

REPORT Tuesday 29th August 2023, 9:23pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs saved the best till last as they took maximum heat advantages in each of the last two heats to take a massive victory 46-44 at Plymouth on Tuesday night.

In slick conditions that saw passing at an absolute premium it all came down to a heat 15 decider with the Monarchs off the unfavoured gates one and three it looked like the home men were favourites but no one told Monarchs captain Josh Pickering and excellent guest Erik Riss that as they made the jump and rode four faultless laps to take the victory remarkably the only time on the night the Monarchs were in front.

Stand in team manager Gordon Campbell saying after.

"It is a tight race for the Play Offs with Plymouth being a rival for the final spot so we were fully determined to get a result tonight.

"This showed with every member of the team having a moment to be proud of in the match and chipping in with vital points at vital moments.

"Special thank you to Erik Riss who was a terrific guest at number 1.

"We must bounce forward from this great result and with the backing of our wonderful supporters we can finish the home season strongly and clinch that Play Off spot."

On a day that had saw plenty of rain in the area and track covers only lifted during the afternoon the name of the game was to get to the first bend in front and keep it low for four laps.

The only action of note early doors seeing Josh Pickering cutting back off bend two to slingshot under Worrall to the front.

The hosts were being well served by James Pearson who took heat wins in heats two and nine but with main men Kyle Howarth and Richie Worrall both looking a little frustrated with conditions albeit scoring well the Monarchs kept themselves in touch throughout.

There were key contributions throughout with six of the seven taking at least one paid win. These often coming at key times when it looked like the home men were going to take control.

Heat eight a great example of this as Max Clegg saw a perfectly good start pulled back when he had hit the front only to repeat the feat in the re-run in a race that on paper looked a strong one for the Gladiators.

Kye Thomson and Paco Castagna did their jobs magnificently throughout also, packing in behind Howarth twice and Worrall before each won their final outing to record paid nine and nine respectively.

Bastian Borke saved his best for last also as most expected a tactical substitute replacement in heat 14 after the Monarchs had slipped six down, Borke had other ideas though in what was the heat of the night.

First up Castagna cutting back off the second bend to fire himself to the front then a lap later Borke battling his way under Pearson to bring it back to a two-point gap with the big last heat to go.

So, it was down to the Monarchs main two, Josh Pickering who had an up and down night to this point with his heat four win being followed by a strange first lap in heat nine where he slowed perhaps thinking the race had been stopped then a frustrating heat 13 where he found himself sandwiched between Worrall and Howarth obviously expecting an unsatisfactory start as he made his feelings clear toward the referee after.

Erik Riss was in gate three an inspired choice of guest who had only tasted defeat when off the graveyard gate one in heat 13.

Pickering had the misfortune of being off the inside but rather than concern himself with unsettling Howarth on his outside he found a fresh bit of dirt on the white line to fire himself to the front. With Riss emerging from a tight first corner to tuck in behind Pickering it was just a case of waiting out the four laps as the glory went to the Monarchs.

Plymouth 44 : Howarth 13+1, Newman 7, Perry 0, Worrall 12+1, Pearson 10+3, Trigger 2+1

Edinburgh 46 : Riss 12+1, Clegg 4, Thomson 6+3, Castagna 9, Pickering 10, Killeen 2+1, Borke 3+1

Full Result Details