MONARCHS’ WIN BUT TIGERS’ CUP

GLASGOW regained the Scottish Cup despite slipping to a 46-44 home defeat to great rivals Edinburgh on Friday.

The Tigers had won the first leg by four points but the Monarchs hit back strongly at Ashfield, and the destination of the silverware went down to a last heat decider.

In the end the home side were grateful for a 5-1 from Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth in Heat 13, and whilst Justin Sedgmen got the better of Harris in a tremendous Heat 15, Howarth’s third place ahead of Oskar Polis kept the Tigers ahead on aggregate.

Harris scored 13 for Glasgow with Howarth on 10+2 and Dan Thompson added 10, whilst Sedgmen led the way for the Monarchs with 12+1 and Polis made a strong debut with nine.

Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “Edinburgh were fired up and came here and did a great job. They sometimes ride our track better than our own. 

“I think things will improve for us and I hope that’s our last home defeat of the season. We won the Scottish Cup, but you don’t want to be losing at home. 

“The boys are a bit down that they didn’t win on the night. I think the younger lads need more bike time.”

Sedgmen said: “Everyone thought we were going to get a bit of a battering tonight, and the boys did good.

“Oskar came and rode the track really well, Victor (Palovaara) was dialled in from the start and Jonatan (Grahn) won his last race, so small improvements every race.

“For me as well it hasn’t been going great and that was a good meeting, and I felt like it was a real good step in the right direction.”

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Photo credit: IAN ADAM