Great display builds a 16 point lead

REPORT Friday 3rd June 2022, 10:56pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The What the Fork Monarchs gave their best performance of the season to defeat Glasgow 53-37 in the first leg of the Knockout Cup quarter final. Considering Glasgow won by twelve on their previous visit to Armadale, that is quite a turnaround, but it was a fully merited result, with the whole team contributing.

Team manager Alex Harkess said "That was a very good and very determined performance, I was very happy with it. There were some really tough first corners out there tonight but we were very competitive, and there were also some excellent overtakes especially by Josh Pickering as usual, and our guest Dillon Ruml."

Glasgow were solid enough but only managed three race winners, as Monarchs hit hard and often. As ever Sam Masters led the way for the Monarchs, scoring a full maximum, with Josh Pickering in thrilling form once again, only beaten once.

Kye Thomson had his best night of the season, and after his customary slow start Paco Castagna took a brilliant 8 points from his final three rides. Guest Dillon Ruml standing in for James Sarjeant also did very well with an exciting 7 points.

The match got off to a curious start as first Craig Cook then replacement Broc Nicol earned tape-touching exclusions, leaving Sam Masters and Jacob Hook to pick up a 4-2 over Connor Bailey. Ruml won heat 2 and Monarchs took a third 4-2 in an outstanding heat 4.

Brennan led all the way from Pickering but was pipped on the line after an outside dash by Josh, and there was another great battle for the point with Ruml passing Hume.

Cook's first race win in heat 5 helped Tigers cut the gap and it was 23-19 to the Monarchs at heat 7. After two pointless rides Castagna then cut loose with a win in heat 8, while Ruml superbly rounded up the two Tigers with a remarkably wide outside line.

Another Cook win in heat 11 over Pickering allowed Tigers to shave two points off the lead, but Monarchs returned the compliment through Thomson and Ruml in heat 12. It was clear that as always heats 13 and 15 were going to be vital.

And what heats they were. Masters gated in heat 13 but Pickering had to do it the hard way, brilliantly hunting down Brennan and Cook for the 5-1.

After the now-rampant Castagna had cut between the Tigers to win heat 14, we had another thrilling show from the top Monarchs. They didn't gate in heat 15 but with the Tigers swinging wide to gain momentum the home pair were able to hit the front with a cunning tight line.

Tigers' team boss Cami Brown was very honest in praising Monarchs' performance tonight. It's the kind of advantage that with a full team, Monarchs would be fairly confident of defending. But as we know, it won't be a full team.

Full Result Details