Monarchs Victorious At Berwick

REPORT Saturday 22nd July 2023, 9:41pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs took the spoils after an enthralling match at Shielfield on Saturday night running out 46-44 winners in an encounter that went all the way to the wire.

There was drama throughout but it was heat 15 that was key.

Craig Cook already on a warning for having been adjudged to have moved at the start in heat nine was in his own words 'a little eager' and moved again meaning a 15 metre handicap.

Partner Josh Pickering leapt from the tapes to lead and with Cook right on the back wheel of home man Jye Etheridge by the end of the first lap all eyes were on the battle for third.

Cook building up his speed and attempting to cut back under Etheridge off every corner but finding the home men closing the door on every occasion.

It looked like a 'super heat' would be the outcome but Berwick were left to rue their luck as Leon Flint sitting comfortably in second ground to a halt on the last lap meaning victory for the Monarchs.

Cook saying after

'It's a result that we need to use to kickstart our season, I thought we could come and dominate with Berwick missing riders but a win is a win and it will give us confidence.

'We have a busy period coming up now so we need to take the confidence from that and move forward.'

While heat 15 will no doubt be the main talking point there was some excellent action throughout with Monarchs recent addition Bastian Borke often in the thick of things receiving rave reviews from long term Berwick fans for his Shielfield debut.

The Dane was involved in a dream start for the Monarch's as he joined Pickering up front to take a heat one maximum and the Monarchs had an early lead.

This would be reversed in heat three as Borke could find no way past the fast starting Berwick pair of Etheridge and Flint to level it up.

It would be heat 9 before the teams could be separated as Flint out jumped Cook at the second attempt.

A further 4-2 in the next race gave Berwick a four point advantage as big a lead as they would have on the night.

Heat 13 was the turning point for the Monarchs, Cook was away well but with Flint in second it looked like the home men would hold on to a slim lead. Pickering would have other ideas though chasing down the young Bandit before cutting back under him off the last bend to snatch second and tie it up again,

Heat 14 was shared leaving the stage set for the frantic finale.

So, a much needed win for the Monarchs as they look to snatch a playoff space, the Bandits with a quick chance for revenge as the teams meet again at Armadale on Friday night.

Berwick Bandits 44: Jonas Knudsen 6+1, Jye Etheridge 14, Leon Flint 9+1, Thomas Jorgensen 7+1, Lee Complin 4+1 Connor Coles 4+2

Stellar Monarchs 46: Josh Pickering 11+2, Bastian Borke 9+1, Kye Thomson 8+1, Craig Cook 12, Dayle Wood 0, Jason Edwards 6+1

Full Result Details