Monarchs in the Cup Final

REPORT Friday 15th October 2021, 11:49pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

On a night of tension and drama the What the Fork Monarchs succeeded in overturning the 16 point deficit from the first leg, taking a last heat 5-1 in a rerun race to go through on a 92-88 aggregate to meet Poole in the Knockout Cup final.

They had edged their way in front early on and built up a lead on the night, going ahead on aggregate in heat 12, only to be pegged back in the penultimate race to set up a sensational finish. It was a disappointing night for Glasgow who had a few riders below expectations.

Captain Sam Masters was smiling even more broadly than ever by the finish. "The whole 1 to 7 did their job tonight, no-one was being carried. Anders had a tough day on the road, missed heat 1 then came to out to win his next race – unreal! I'm a happy captain."

Team manager Alex Harkess said "I'm very satisfied, we achieved what we set out to do, there was a great deal of determination in that performance and we rode very well.

"Everyone chipped in with wins and paid wins and they just would not be denied. Our youngsters missed a chance in heat 2 when Jason Edwards fell, but he got a crucial win in heat 12 and there were wins for Drew Kemp and Anders Rowe as well. Sam Masters and Richie Worrall proved in that last heat that they are great in these high pressure situations.

"I'm not getting carried away about tomorrow, things are never as simple as you think they might be." The two teams of course meet at Armadale tomorrow in the Championship Playoff first leg.

Tonight's match started with a Monarch missing as Anders Rowe was stuck in traffic and had to be replaced in heat 1. The replacement rider Drew Kemp was accidentally brought down by Sam Jensen who was excluded, so Monarchs started with a 4-2, Masters holding off an early challenge from Cook.

The home reserves gated in heat 2 but Edwards came down awkwardly on the first corner, with Marcin Nowak managing to swerve and avoid him thankfully. Kemp won the rerun with Edwards out.

Monarchs made their first big move in heat 3 in which Pickering and Thomson took a big 5-1 over Tom Brennan who was making his Armadale debut. Brennan however was highly impressive in the later stages.

The next two heats were shared, a determined heat 4 win for Richie Worrall who had to subdue Ricky Wells, then perhaps the ride of the night from Craig Cook who cut back brilliantly to pass Josh Pickering. So after one-third of the match, Monarchs had pegged back 6 of the 16 points.

Then Anders Rowe burst on the scene, and got a tremendous run to the front with captain Masters sitting in second and keeping an eye on the opposition – a vital 5-1.

Heat 7 went to the excellent Brennan who got clear of Worrall, with Kemp in third place. Heat 8 looked like a chance for Monarchs but although Kemp took the heat, Edwards finished at the rear. The next big move was only delayed one race though.

Not for the first time it was Thomson and Pickering again, outsmarting Wells and with 6 races left, Monarchs were only two down on aggregate.

Masters had to work very hard to pass Brennan round the outside on the opening lap of heat 10, then hold him off, and with Rowe at the back there was still work to do. The fierce determination of Worrall brought him a heat 11 win over Cook but Tigers were still just in front overall.

Tigers gated in heat 12 only for the red lights to come on, Broc Nicol earning his second warning of the night which meant he was going off 15 metres. Connor Bailey, a steady performer all night, was unfortunate to make a much less good start in the rerun and Edwards was able to race ahead with Thomson backing up – Monarchs were in front for the first time.

Heat 13 was a fierce battle, not so much for Cook who raced away to win from gate 2, but for Worrall and Masters who had to work so hard to subdue Wells who was also away well. Richie Worrall just squeezed past going into the third corner and Masters managed to follow suit later.

Heat 14 might have finished it off, but that man Brennan again was to the fore taking an excellent win, while Bailey took an important third over Kemp – so we were level again!

Masters and Worrall lined up in the decider for Monarchs, Brennan and Cook for the Tigers – and the home pair battled to the front. This should have been the clincher – but it wasn't because Brennan came down in third place as the riders started the second lap. The 5-1 had looked a certainty.

However it was only delayed. It was not hard to imagine Craig Cook jetting off for a win, but the home men were not having it and comfortably took the maximum to clinch the tie. The celebrations began – but there's more tomorrow.

Full Result Details