Middlesbrough miss out against Monarchs
The Middlesbrough “Heat Floors” Tigers powered by “STS” proved to be more than a match for the Edinburgh Monarchs Academy before just missing out 48-42 in a last heat decider at Armadale. Tom Spencer hit paid 10 for the Tigers whilst Dayle Wood hit 14 for the hosts.
Academy number one Connor Coles took heat one but with Jamie Halder and Tom Spencer packing the minor places, we had a shared heat to open proceedings. Heat two saw the hosts hit their first maximum heat advantage as the reserve pairing of Mark Parker and Lee Harrison gave the Monarchs the early impetus.
After a shared heat three won by Middlesbrough’s Ace Pijper, the Monarchs extended their lead to six points as Dayle Wood took the chequered flag, and with Lee Harrison benefitting from Kai Ward hitting the deck, Edinburgh had their second heat advantage on home shale.
However, Edinburgh’s lead was immediately cut to four points as the impressive Halder took the Tigers second heat win, and with Spencer 3rd (but challenging for 2nd throughout), Middlesbrough were back within touching distance.
Nevertheless, the Academy immediately hit back with a 4-2 of their own as Coles took his second win on the trot, and with Kyran Lyden holding 3rd, Edinburgh’s six point lead was restored.
Heat eight saw the Tigers hit back superbly with their first 5-1 as Halder took his 2nd win, and with Ward 2nd, the visitors were back within striking distance of the Academy. Heat nine saw Danny Phillips take his first win, but with Tigers guest Laylan Richardson 4th, the Monarchs’ slim advantage was still intact.
After a pair of shared races won by Coles and Spencer respectively, the Monarchs doubled their lead to four points as Matt Marson won, and with Harrison 3rd, the Edinburgh fans could breathe slightly easier.
Heat 13 saw Edinburgh take a significant 4-2 advantage to bring themselves six clear as Dayle Wood took his 3rd heat win, and with Coles in a vital 3rd place, Edinburgh were almost there.
However, heat 14 saw the Tigers leave themselves with a fighting chance with a 4-2 of their own as Stene Pijper took his first ever win as a Tiger, and with the ever improving Ward in 3rd, we had a last heat decider in Scotland.
The final heat saw Halder take a nasty tumble which saw him excluded from the re-run. The re-run saw Wood win, and with Coles in an unopposed 3rd, Edinburgh had the win on home shale.
Edinburgh Monarchs Academy = 48
- Connor Coles = 11
- Kyran Lyden = 1
- Matt Marson = 8+1
- Sam McGurk = 5+1
- Dayle Wood = 14
- Mark Parker = 4+1
- Lee Harrison = 5+1
Middlesbrough Tigers = 42
- Tom Spencer = 9+1
- Jamie Halder = 8
- Ace Pijper = 8+1
- Stene Pijper = 6+1
- Danny Phillips = 7
- Laylan Richardson = 0
- Kai Ward = 4+1