Monarchs triumph over Tigers
The Edinburgh Monarchs Academy took a 47-43 away win over the Middlesbrough Tigers to go top of the WSRA National Development League after a close, entertaining meeting at the ECCO Arena.
Ace Pijper was the undoubted star of the show with a faultless 15 point confidence boosting maximum whilst Dayle Wood and Sam McGurk both struck paid 14 for the victorious visitors.
The meeting started in superb fashion for the Tigers as Ace Pijper strode to a comfortable win, and with the returning Jamie Halder impressively holding off Academy number one Connor Coles, the “Heat Floors” Tigers powered by “STS”, started with a bang.
The reserves race saw Edinburgh’s new signing, Jordy Loftus make an instant impact with an impressive win, but with his partner Lee Harrison at the back, the visitors remained four adrift.
Heat three saw Edinburgh cut the gap to two points as Sam McGurk passed a fast starting Tom Spencer for the win, and with the youngster Loftus again impressing in 3rd ahead of Kai Ward, the Academy had their first heat advantage.
After Dayle Wood began his return from injury with a win in a shared heat four, Middlesbrough looked set to extend their lead in heat five with Spencer gating alongside Ward but with Ward looking uneasy, he was passed by Coles and then slid off entering the last lap, gifting Mark Parker 3rd which saw Edinburgh claim an unlikely 3-3.
Ace Pijper continued his winning run with an exquisite gate to win a shared heat six, Edinburgh hit their first 5-1 to go into a two point lead as Wood (out as the rider replacement won), and with McGurk 2nd, Edinburgh had the upper hand at the ECCO Arena.
However, heat eight saw Middlesbrough regain control as Ben Rathbone took a mightily impressive win, and with Halder 2nd, the topsy turvy nature of the meeting continued as Middlesbrough hit their first 5-1 for a 25-23 lead.
After Spencer rode a well calculated race to win a shared heat nine, the Tigers re-established a four point lead as Ace Pijper won again, and with Halder 3rd (despite holding 2nd at one stage), the hosts had the upper hand heading into the final portion of the meeting.
Nevertheless, the Monarchs had no intention of making it easy for the Tigers and heat 11 showed that as Coles and Parker took a 5-1 as Middlesbrough were hampered by Phillips shedding a chain on the start line and suddenly, Edinburgh were level.
Heat 12 saw McGurk and the Monarchs’ star reserve Loftus put a smile on the healthy set of Monarchs supporters with another 5-1 to send the visitors into their largest lead of the match as they led 34-38 on Teesside.
After Pijper continued on his merry way with a tapes to flag win in a shared heat 13, Edinburgh secured the win in heat 14, but not after a heavy fall from Tom Spencer. Heading into bend two of the opening lap, Spencer had an awkward looking fall, and was excluded from the re-run.
The re-run saw McGurk win despite close attention from Stene Pijper, and with Loftus (in his 7th outing), 3rd, Edinburgh took the win. The final race saw Ace Pijper make a breathtaking pass up the inside of Wood entering lap 3 for a win and his maximum, and with Rathbone 3rd, Middlesbrough ended the meeting with a heat advantage.
Middlesbrough Tigers = 43 (86)
1. Ace Pijper = 15
2. Jamie Halder = 5+2
3. Kai Ward = 0
4. Tom Spencer = 8
5. Danny Phillips = 3
6. Stene Pijper = 5
7. Ben Rathbone = 7+2
Edinburgh Monarchs Academy = 47 (94)
1. Connor Coles = 8
2. Mark Parker = 3+2
3. Matt Marson R/R
4. Sam McGurk = 13+1
5. Dayle Wood = 13+1
6. Jordy Loftus = 10+3
7. Lee Harrison = 0