Monarchs Feel Tigers Roar

Stellar Monarchs KO Cup hopes were blown away early and often at Ashfield on Wednesday night a final score of 58-32 meaning by it is the Tigers who progress by 18 on aggregate.

Defending an eight point lead the Monarchs were looking to start well and increase the pressure on the home men but the exact opposite would happen.

The Tigers at their sharpest recording a trio of maximums in the first three heats to take the aggregate lead with no way back for the Armadale men as team boss Alex Harkess would explain, 'The first three races were the killer.

'The track was grippy and we couldn't cope with that to start with. As the match went on we started to adjust to it but the damage was done.

'We didn't do ourself justice tonight really and we can only say we'll do better when we come back in the league.'

The hosts were in no mood to let up after the fast start as they would stretch their legs with further maximum advantages in heats six, ten and twelve.

There was some joy for the Monarchs with heat wins for Paco Castagna, Michael Palm Toft and guests Jason Edwards and Jacob Hook but the damage was done.

For the Tigers this will come as a big boost with further important fixtures remaining and with all seven of their riders recording at least one win or paid win and a maximum for centurion Chris Harris they look to be rounding into form nicely as the business end of the season approaches.

All attention now turns back to the Championship for the Monarchs who will need to bounce back quickly with a home and away fixtures against Workington this weekend.

Eight Point Lead To Defend At Ashfield

Stellar Monarchs are back in cup action on Wednesday with the much awaited second leg of the quarter final clash against the Glasgow Tigers at Ashfield.

The Monarchs take an eight point lead west but are forced into a pair of changes.

Victor Palovaara has to sit out with the 7-day absence that comes from a non-speedway absence, however with our number one suffering from pneumonia and missing matches in Sweden this week it may be a guest would have been required anyway.

Stepping in for Victor is Redcar's Jason Edwards, Edwards recording a paid eleven score when visiting with his Redcar side a few weeks ago, a pair of heat wins included in this tally.

At the other end of the team Palovaara's fellow Swede Jonatan Grahn misses out also, this time a victim of circumstance, Jonatan having to ride in a re-arranged Swedish match following a rain off last week, the international calendar priority list meaning the Swedish league match takes precedent over a British cup fixture.

Jacob Hook comes in for Grahn, Hook another with recent Ashfield experience scoring five and a bonus in his Workington sides narrow defeat just last week.

Elsewhere the Monarchs are as expected albeit with a change in riding order that sees Michael Palm Toft and Kye Thomson swapping positions. Palm Toft now at number four and Thomson at Five.

The Tigers strength comes from their top five with recent signing Villads Nagal showing tremendous form only weeks into his UK career.

Elsewhere, the ageless Chris Harris continues to be among the top riders in the division, Dan Thompson's upwards trajectory shows no slowing and Leon Flint is enjoying perhaps his finest season in the sport with regular high scores both at Championship and Premiership level.

Kyle Howarth normally completes the top five but he misses out in this one with Workington Aussie Tate Zischke deputising.

Max Perry and Freddy Hodder are at reserve with both capable of a big score in any meeting albeit the pari maybe looking for consistency also.

So, eight points the lead the Monarchs hold currently and look to defend this means the maths are simple any result of a 7 point defeat or better and the Monarchs head for the semi finals, any 9 point plus Tigers win and it is Glasgow that proceed, if the first leg result is matched then it is 'Super Heat' time.

No stream is available for this match so please do not click on any links you may see on social media but live updates will be available from 7.30pm on the Monarchs official website.