MONARCHS END BANDITS’ HOPES

EDINBURGH defeated Berwick 49-41 to take a further step towards the Cab Direct Championship play-offs and in the process end their opponent’s chances.

A close contest was all square after Heat 8 but the Bandits suffered mid-meeting injury blows with Jye Etheridge and Victor Palovaara both crashing out.

The Monarchs stretched clear with key 5-1s in Heats 10 and 13 and they are now close to clinching a top four finish.

Kye Thomson led the way for the hosts with 13 points and Dan Thompson added 9+1, whilst Nick Morris racked up 14 from six rides for the visitors and reserve Reid Battye tallied 10+1.

Thomson said: “It was tougher than we thought it was going to be. They had a team full of guests and it’s happened to us many times where you probably relax a bit more than you should and they give you a fair run.

“They pushed us for three-quarters of the meeting, they were great out of the gate and made it tough.”

Bandits boss Stewart Dickson said: “It’s really just been one of those night, a tough one.

“Despite the injury setbacks we kept battling away and in a lot of ways it was one of our best away results this season.”

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO