MONARCHS HOLD ON IN THRILLER

EDINBURGH are up to third place in the Cab Direct Championship after holding on for a dramatic 45-44 win at Oxford.

Victor Palovaara and Kye Thomson secured a vital 3-3 in Heat 15 after the Monarchs had seen a nine-point lead whittled away, with Thomson re-passing Mitch McDiarmid at the end of the opening lap.

Palovaara marked his elevation to No.1 with another double figure haul, as he scored 11, whilst reserve Jonatan Grahn was a key figure at reserve with 9+1.

Sam Masters scored 14 for the Cheetahs with both Luke Killeen and Cameron Heeps scoring 9+1, but they slipped to a second home defeat in the league with the Monarchs also taking the aggregate point.

Edinburgh boss John Campbell said: “It became very, very tense at the end. I think Victor did well at No.1, and Kye was the only one that really got going round the outside.

“He said that had he made starts he would have won all his races by miles! He never makes the start, but he was building up such momentum and that is why he was the man for Heat 15.

“Gate 4 was atrocious so we needed someone who could pass, and Kye was the only rider who was going to do that.”

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “Of course, in some ways it’s worse to lose by one point at home than 20 points because it’s so deflating when you’re so close to victory and miss out.

“But, at the same time, I could not fault for the boys for effort tonight. They battled over every point, but we just fell short.

“We had a bit of bad luck again – I feel I must have run over a black cat at some point. Cam (Heeps) isn’t quite 100 per cent, which is why he didn’t go out in Heat 15, while Jordan (Jenkins) also took a knock tonight.”

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

Photo credit: STEVE EDMUNDS