MONARCHS WIN CHEETAHS THRILLER

EDINBURGH edged out Oxford 46-44 in a classic Cab Direct Championship contest at Armadale which was decided in a thrilling Heat 15.

Monarchs No.1 Josh Pickering completed a sensational last-to-first blast, getting the better of Cheetahs duo Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls to ensure the home side got over the line with a win.

There had earlier been a vintage Heat 13 involving the top riders, with Justin Sedgmen holding on to second place in a spectacular battle with Nicholls as Pickering just missed out.

Pickering top-scored for the Monarchs on his return to the side with 11, and captain Paco Castagna picked up 10. Masters (13+1) and Nicholls (11) were the top scorers for Oxford.

Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “A bit too tight for my liking, though it was always going to be tight. I was certainly happy with the determination the team showed, throughout the side from 1 to 7.

“Paco kept his excellent form going, Kye Thomson and Lasse Fredriksen won heats when it mattered, and Sedgy certainly played a full part in that last race, an incredible ride by Josh.”

Cheetahs manager Peter Schroeck said: “When a team loses by such a small margin, you always reflect on the points that got away from you during the evening. But our riders gave their all and I couldn’t have asked for any more from them.

“In the meantime, we picked up an aggregate bonus point and that puts us into the play-off places.

“The key is to pick up points from every meeting, and the hard work we did to beat Edinburgh well at Oxford meant we came out of today with a point and it means we don’t make the long drive home completely empty handed.”

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO