Glasgow Tigers
Claus Vissing 12+1 (5)
Edinburgh Monarchs
Erik Riss 14+1 (6)
SGB Championship Shield
49
41
Sunday 22nd April 2018
Peugeot Ashfield Stadium
Glasgow Tigers
Team Manager: Cami Brown
49
1. Richie Worrall 1 1 1* 1 4 1
2. Lewis Kerr 3 3 3 2 0 11 0
3. Paul Starke 3 1 1 1 6 0
4. Claus Vissing 2* 3 3 3 1 12 1
5. Chris Harris 0 3 2 3 8 0
6. Jack Thomas 2* 1 0 0 3 1
7. James Sarjeant 3 1 1 0 5 0
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: Alex Harkess
41
1. Ricky Wells 2 2 3 0 7 0
2. Max Ruml 0 1 0 0 1 0
3. Mark Riss F R 3 3 2 2* 10 1
4. Joel Andersson R/R 0 0
5. Erik Riss 3 2 2 2* 2 3 14 1
6. Matt Williamson 1 0 0 1 0
7. Josh Pickering R 2* 2 2 0 1 1* 8 2
Heat 1
Time: 58.87
1. Richie Worrall  
1
2. Lewis Kerr  
3
1. Ricky Wells  
2
2. Max Ruml  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
4
Away
2
2
Heat 2
 
6. Jack Thomas  
2
7. James Sarjeant  
3
6. Matt Williamson  
1
7. Josh Pickering  
R
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
9
Away
1
3
Heat 3
Time: 60.0
3. Paul Starke  
3
4. Claus Vissing  
2
3. Mark Riss  
F
4. Joel Andersson R/R  
2. Max Ruml
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
5
14
Away
1
4
Heat 4
Time: 60.16
5. Chris Harris  
0
7. James Sarjeant  
1
5. Erik Riss  
3
7. Josh Pickering  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
1
15
Away
5
9
Heat 5
Time: 58.18
3. Paul Starke  
1
4. Claus Vissing  
3
1. Ricky Wells  
2
2. Max Ruml  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
19
Away
2
11
Heat 6
Time: 58.8
1. Richie Worrall  
1
2. Lewis Kerr  
3
5. Erik Riss  
2
6. Matt Williamson  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
23
Away
2
13
Heat 7
Time: 58.66
5. Chris Harris  
3
6. Jack Thomas  
1
3. Mark Riss  
R
4. Joel Andersson R/R  
7. Josh Pickering
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
27
Away
2
15
Heat 8
 
2. Lewis Kerr  
3
7. James Sarjeant  
1
2. Max Ruml  
0
7. Josh Pickering  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
31
Away
2
17
Heat 9
 
3. Paul Starke  
1
4. Claus Vissing  
3
5. Erik Riss  
2
6. Matt Williamson  
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
35
Away
2
19
Heat 10
Time: 59.33
1. Richie Worrall  
1
2. Lewis Kerr  
2
3. Mark Riss  
3
4. Joel Andersson R/R  
7. Josh Pickering
0
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
38
Away
3
22
Heat 11
Time: 60.0
5. Chris Harris  
2
6. Jack Thomas  
0
1. Ricky Wells  
3
2. Max Ruml  
7. Josh Pickering
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
2
40
Away
4
26
Heat 12
Time: 59.73
3. Paul Starke  
1
7. James Sarjeant  
0
3. Mark Riss  
3
6. Matt Williamson  T/S
5. Erik Riss
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
1
41
Away
5
31
Heat 13
Time: 59.7
1. Richie Worrall  
1
5. Chris Harris  
3
1. Ricky Wells  
0
5. Erik Riss  
2
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
4
45
Away
2
33
Heat 14
Time: 59.96
4. Claus Vissing  
3
6. Jack Thomas  
0
4. Joel Andersson R/R  
3. Mark Riss
2
7. Josh Pickering  
1
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
3
48
Away
3
36
Heat 15
Time: 59.65
4. Claus Vissing  
1
2. Lewis Kerr  
0
3. Mark Riss  
2
5. Erik Riss  
3
 
Heat
Score
Match
Score
Home
1
49
Away
5
41

A slow start which saw us trail 4-14 after three races was the downfall at Glasgow today. We fought back well and had some good performances as we finally lost out 41-49.

Our star turns were the Riss boys with six wins or paid wins between them. Ricky Wells won one heat and there was plenty of entertainment from battling Josh Pickering who took paid 10 from no. 7.

The Staggs Bar Monarchs made a horrendous start to the match and found themselves 10 down after only 3 heats on what at the time looked like it would be a very slick track.

That was not to be the way of things to come though as an enthralling match was to follow. The score line was never really close enough for any drama to come of that but the newly shaped Ashfield circuit served up some fantastic action not least from Pickering at reserve including what was from a Monarchs point of view race of the night in heat 4 when the young Aussie rounded Chris Harris and then James Sarjeant in exhilarating style. Pickering was happy enough with his performance saying after the match "My first ride was a bit of a disaster; my killswitch came out as I dropped the clutch and I've never done that before but I suppose it gave me a kick up the backside for the rest of my rides. The outside line was consistent so it worked for me, all in all the team just need to come on a bit, I was so busy I only really saw 2 races but the team battled hard and we were competitive."

Pickering was never far away from the thick of the action but he was joined by some top notch racing on both sides. Lewis Kerr and Claus Vissing were particularly impressive for the home men with Kerr's battle with Erik Riss in heat 6 a highlight and Vissing also producing a ride of the night contender in heat 14 when he stalked Pickering and Mark Riss picking the win up on the line by the slimmest of margins.

As previously mentioned by Pickering the outside line was there to be attacked by those with the fortitude to do so and this worked to great effects in outstanding efforts by home captain Chris Harris and the Monarchs own captain Erik Riss.

So all in all a match the Staggs Bar Monarchs come away from empty handed and it now looks like the Championship Shield group is out with our reaches, all is not lost though as the semi finals can still be reached via being the best placed runner up so all is still to play for as the Monarchs welcome Berwick to Armadale next Friday.

So after Friday night’s setback where we went down 48-41 to the Tigers the Staggs Bar Monarchs head west looking to get our Championship Shield back on track and gain some of the pride lost against the same opposition.

This will not be an easy task as witnessed on Friday the Tigers have a powerhouse outfit but we should take heart from our previous visit to Ashfield 3 weeks ago in the Scottish Cup where but for a late collapse we would have come back with a better result than the ten point deficit faced.

Looking back to that night there is reason for optimism as Ricky, Eric and Matt all performed well with Max acquitting himself admirably and looking to build on recent promising performances. Mark and Josh will be looking for improvement as would Joel have been but unfortunately he will be missing being as he is required to ride in Poland. Rider replacement operates with Mark, Max and the reserves all eligible for an extra outing.

For the home men they will be looking to cement their place at the top of the Championship Shield group and a win for the Tigers would all but eliminate the Monarchs and give the Tigers one foot firmly into the semi finals.

The Tigers are yet to hit peak form at home although they did take care of Berwick by a comfortable 18 points last week after an early scare. Richie Worrall, Claus Vissing and James Sarjeant leading the way all into double digits.

So can the Monarchs rebound from Friday night and show what we are made of, only time will tell and there is only one place to be to find out and that is at Ashfield.

See you there!