Tigers tamed twice by Edinburgh!
THE Edinburgh Monarchs Academy laid down a marker as they opened their WSRA National Development League season with a pair of impressive wins over the Middlesbrough “Hartburn Garage” Tigers. Friday’s fixture in Scotland saw the hosts record an impressive 57-33 win on home shale.
A strong home performance saw five of the six Monarchs record double figure scores with their guest, James Shane topping the scorecharts with 13+1. Edinburgh’s debutant, the 23 year old Ben Whalley from New Zealand began with a bang as he struck a superb paid 29 across both matches.
The Tigers main resistance came in the shape of their number one, Ace Pijper who struck 13 including winning his opening four races at Armadale. The Tigers were also missing Nathan Ablitt who was on second tier duty with Scunthorpe. Ablitt was also missing on Saturday due to aggravating an old injury at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday.
Despite a pair of defeats, positive signs were there for the Tigers. Namely, Ace Pijper recording an impressive eight wins from his nine outings including a perfect four ride maximum on Saturday at the ECCO Arena. Additionally, the Tigers reserves, Harry Sadler and Charlie Southwick continued to develop with the latter hitting paid 14 across the two meetings whilst Sadler struck paid 13 from the two matches.
Saturday’s return match at the ECCO Arena was another challenging one for the Tigers as Edinburgh made it 5/5 points across the weekend as they took home a deserved 36-54 away win. Dayle Wood continued his impressive 2026 season as he struck paid 16 at the ECCO Arena as he continued his upward surge in both the Cab Direct Championship and the WSRA National League.
Despite some bright sparks from the Tigers, the Monarchs were too strong across both matches, with ex-Tiger Jamie Halder striking an impressive paid 21 from both matches after an injury interrupted 2025 season.
The Tigers next return to the ECCO Arena shale on July 11 against the Leicester Lion Cubs with the next Cab Direct Championship fixture on home shale coming up this Friday as Redcar look to return to winning ways against the Scunthorpe Scorpions.
Friday
Edinburgh Monarchs Academy = 57
- Jordy Loftus = 12+1
- James Halder = 10+2
- Connor Coles R/R
- James Shanes = 13+1
- Dayle Wood = 11+1
- Ben Whalley = 10+3
- Anika Loftus = 1
Middlesbrough Tigers = 33
- Ace Pijper = 13
- Alex Spooner = 0
- Jade Mudgway = 6
- Stene Pijper = 0
- Seth Norman (G) = 3+2
- Harry Sadler = 5+1
- Charlie Southwick = 6
Saturday
Middlesbrough Tigers = 36 (69)
- Ace Pijper = 12
- Alex Spooner = 1
- Jade Mudgway = 4
- Stene Pijper = 2+1
- Seth Norman (G) = 4+1
- Harry Sadler = 6+1
- Charlie Southwick = 7+1
Edinburgh Monarchs Academy = 54 (111)
- Jordy Loftus = 13
- Jamie Halder = 7+2
- Connor Coles R/R
- James Shanes = 8
- Dayle Wood = 14+2
- Ben Whalley = 12+4
- Anika Loftus = 0