Monarchs Progress

REPORT Saturday 17th September 2022, 7:33pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The What the Fork Monarchs stuck to their task well to progress to the semi final of the league playoffs going down by 8 on the day but winning by 10 on aggregate after a match that had a bit of everything at the Ecco Arena.

As is so often the case the Monarchs were led by captain Sam Masters who finished on 13 points and beamed after 'It was good we had the lead after the home leg but they pushed us in the first couple of heats but we got the job done in the end and finished with a 5-1 so that was nice.'

The home men knew they would have to hit back hard if they wanted to unsettle the Monarchs and they did just that taking the chequered flag in each of the first 4 races.

The first of these won by Erik Riss who was sensational on his return from injury top scoring for the Bears with 11.

The most controversial of the early races was heat 4 where after missing the start Josh Pickering set about doing what he so often does first going round Kasper Andersen then cutting under Charles Wright. Wright then hit the inside himself pushing Josh out on the final corner the Monarch coming down. A move that would be probably be described as hard by the home fans and desperate by the away ones. Referee Chris Durno the only one whose opinion matters adjudging Wright had done nothing wrong.

The Monarchs would hit back quickly though with a maximum of their own in heat 5 when Lasse Frederiksen rounded Leon Flint to join Masters at the front.

This settled the nerves and when Jacob Hook and Lasse Frederiksen hit another 5-1 in heat 8 then it was a case of just counting down the points.

Some enthralling racing ensued with Kye Thomson riding a fantastic race to split the home men in heat 12.

Heat 13 was race of the night as a blanket could be thrown over all 4 throughout, Riss holding on from Masters but with Wright unable to make an impact it meant only a finisher was needed in the penultimate race.

The Bears duly recorded the 5-1 with Monarchs guest Adam Roynon picking up the 3rd the job was done, Roynon worth more than his 3 points on the day.

It meant the last heat was inconsequential in regards the tie but try telling that to the Monarchs top men.

Masters controlled the race throughout with Pickering diving under Riss to join his captain up front the wheelies and burnout celebration showing just how much it meant to them and the rest of the team

Full Result Details