Excellent Edinburgh defeat Tigers
The Edinburgh Monarchs Academy took their first win of the season with a 52-37 victory over a battling Middlesbrough “Heat Floors” Tigers side at Armadale. Connor Coles was the difference maker for the hosts with a stunning maximum whilst Jake Mulford hit 10 for the Tigers.
Despite the impressive win for the hosts they had to do it without Sam McGurk who broke down on his way to the meeting with rider replacement covering his outings. The Middlesbrough management could also point to the fact that Ben Trigger missing the meeting had an impact on the side’s chances.
The meeting started in the worst possible way for the Tigers with Connor Coles winning his first race of the match, and with Mason Watson 2nd after Mulford suffered mechanical problems, Edinburgh had a 4 point lead. The second race saw further problems for the Tigers as both Ben Rathbone and Will Hocaniuk fell to gift the Academy a 5-0 heat win and a 10-1 advantage after just 2 races!
Heat 3 saw a much needed 5-1 heat advantage for Middlesbrough as Jamie Halder gated and took the win, and with Danny Phillips passing Dayle Wood on lap 3 to take 2nd, the Tigers reduced the deficit to 5 points.
Max Perry passed the impressive Will Hocaniuk and the Middlesbrough guest, Matt Marson to win heat 4, but with Kyran Lyden at the rear, Edinburgh could not extend their advantage. Jake Mulford registered Middlesbrough’s 2nd heat win of the night, but with Kai Ward falling whilst in 4th, the Tigers were still 5 behind in Scotland.
After a trio of shared heats won by Coles, Perry and Watson respectively to maintain Edinburgh’s 5 point advantage, the Monarchs hit a vital 5-1 in heat nine to give them a 9 point cushion at Armadale. Dayle Wood took the win, and with Perry passing Marson for 2nd, Middlesbrough had a mountain to climb in their quest for an away win.
Heat 10 saw another big blow for the Tigers as Coles and Watson hit another 5-1 to give Edinburgh a 13 point advantage in their quest for an opening win of the season. Mulford stopped the rot for Middlesbrough with his 2nd heat win, and with Ward getting the better of Lyden, the Tigers had a much needed heat advantage to reduce the arrears to 11 points on away shale.
However, the Monarchs re-established their 13 point lead thanks to a 4-2 in heat 13 as Coles gated well to hold off Mulford, and with Perry getting the better of Marson, the Monarchs wrapped up their first 2 WRSA league points of the campaign.
After a shared heat 14 won by Edinburgh’s Wood, the final race of the night saw an epic battle between Coles and the Middlesbrough pairing of Mulford and Phillips. Coles took the lead from the gate, only to be passed superbly by Phillips on the outside. However, Coles was not to be denied his maximum as he passed the Middlesbrough skipper at the end of lap 2 to take a well deserved maximum in a 52-37 success for the Monarchs academy.
Edinburgh Monarchs Academy = 52
1. Connor Coles = 15 MAXIMUM
2. Mason Watson = 8+3
3. Sam McGurk R/R
4. Dayle Wood = 12
5. Max Perry = 11+1
6. Mark Parker = 2+1
7. Kyran Lyden = 4
Middlesbrough Tigers = 37
1. Jake Mulford = 10
2. Kai Ward = 3+1
3. Danny Phillips = 8+1
4. Jaime Halder = 5+3
5. Matt Marson (G) = 4+1
6. Ben Rathbone = 1+1
7. William Hocaniuk = 6
