Monarchs Progress After Drama Filled Night

It took until the last lap of the last heat but after 30 races of enthralling Scottish derby speedway it is the What the Fork Monarchs who progress to the semi final of the KO cup 91-89 on aggregate despite going down 52-38 at Ashfield on Saturday evening.

The Monarchs headed along the M8 with a 16 point lead to defend but minus the services of 4 of their usual septet so knowing there was still work to do.

Everything was needed as it came down to a last heat decider the Monarchs requiring at worst a 3-3 to clinch the tie.

Richard Lawson made a great start to take the lead but was quickly swallowed up by Tigers no1 Craig Cook. With Cook's partner Tom Brennan in 3rd it looked like an aggregate draw was on the cards and golden heats to come but Justin Sedgmen had other ideas sticking to a tight inside line he finally got under Brennan on bend 2 of lap 4 holding the young Englishman off on the final corner to send the Monarchs into raptures and team boss Alex Harkess to say

'The aim was to progress and we did it! I don't like a heat 15 like that. With 4 races to go we needed 8 points and I would have liked to have gotten 7 of them before heat 15 but we didn't. We lost a few 5-1's including in heat 13 and that made it more difficult for the riders to come forward knowing they needed to do something in heat 15 but Richard Lawson did what was required and Sedgy did something I wouldn't have put any money on at all and tonight he is just a hero.

'Golden heats obviously would have made them the favourites as the home team but we got the 3-3 that won us the tie and you may be able to tell I'm quite pleased with that actually.'

It was an up and down night throughout, the Monarchs made a dream start with a heat 1 maximum Lawson and Jacob Hook rocketing from the gate and with Cook suffering the first of 3 engine failures albeit while at the back the aggregate lead was up to 20 and all was rosy.

The Tigers fought back with a maximum of their own in heat 2 and with further advantages for the home men in heats 4, 5, 7 and 8 the Tigers lead on the night was 10 and the aggregate lead was down to 6.

Heat 10 looked like a turning point for the Monarchs as Cook's disastrous start to the match continued with another engine failure gifting the Monarchs a 5-1.

A 3-3 followed in heat 11 meaning with 4 races to go the Monarchs only needed 8 points to see them through.

Heat 12 looked like it could be the turning point against them though as an awkward 2nd bend saw Kye Thomson the meat in a Broc Nicol and Dillon Ruml sandwich coming down hard with the ambulance out immediately. Thankfully Kye while feeling very worse for wear was able to watch the rest of the meeting with his teammates. Referee Jim McGregor disqualifying Thomson and the resultant Tigers 5-1 had the aggregate advantage at 6 for the Monarchs once again.

If the Tigers tails were up after that then by the end of heat 13 they were surely sensing blood after another heat maximum brought them within 2

Paco Castagna and Ruml tucked in behind heat winner Benjamin Basso in heat 14 to set up the last heat decider and it was that man Sedgmen so often a hero back in his league winning Monarchs days in 2014 and 2015 who had the last say stealing that 3rd place and sending the Monarchs into the semi finals

Job Still To Do At Ashfield

An unusual looking What the Fork Monarchs head West on Saturday with a 16-point lead to defend as progression to the KO Cup semi final is up for grabs at Ashfield.

A lot has been said about the circumstances that leave the Monarchs with 3 guests and rider replacement in operation but all that needs forgotten about when the tapes fly at 7pm.

Sam Masters and Josh Pickering are in Poland with 2 former Tigers Richard Lawson and Justin Sedgmen deputising both having had strong meetings at Ashfield already this year.

The same can be said for reserve guest Dillon Ruml who steps in for James Sarjeant having done so admirably at Armadale on Friday night also.

The final missing piece of the Monarchs jigsaw comes at number 2 where Lasse Fredriksen continues his recovery form a broken shoulder, rider replacement in operation with Paco Castagna and the reserves Ruml and Jacob Hook taking the outings.

The 3 remaining Monarchs Castagna, Hook and Kye Thomson (who steps in as captain) all have to take on added responsibly then between the extra rides and captaincy and the former 2 will certainly be looking to build on their 3- and 2-point returns on the league visit at the beginning of May.

Thomson was in fine form that day with a 10-point haul and a repeat of that could go a long way to seeing the Monarchs through

A 16 point advantage is a handy lead to have but of course it is only half time in the tie and with the Tigers sure to be ready from the off a big job is still required, if further evidence of this was needed we only need to look back to the semi final of the same competition last year where the Monarchs were on a reverse of a 16 point defeat in the first leg only to roar back and win the home leg by 20 to progress to the final. The Monarchs then went down at Ashfield by 22 a couple of weeks later as well so while there is reason for optimism the tie is still very much on a knife edge.

Looking to turn it back in their favour the home men line-up as last night with a full 1-7 led by Craig Cook. Cook is still the master of Ashfield and with able backup in the form of Ulrich Ostergaard, Tom Brennan and Ben Basso not to mention Connor Bailey who is enjoying his best season of his career a formidable 1-5 is in place.

Couple that with one of the strongest reserve parings in the league Broc Nicol and Danyon Hume both who will be looking to make amends after down nights by their high standards at Armadale in the first leg.

So, a big match in store for both with not just bragging rights but cup progression on the line, the Monarchs have given themselves a chance after that strong first leg performance but that all counts for zero at 7pm tonight and the mindset being drummed into the boys isn't that we have a 16 point lead to defend but that the scores start again at naught.

While a large contingent of Monarchs persuasion will be expected on the 4th bend for those that can't make it live updates will be available from the Monarchs website.