WIN FOR MONARCHS, POINT FOR PIRATES

EDINBURGH remain on course for the play-offs thanks to a 47-43 win over Poole at Armadale although it was the league leaders who headed south with the aggregate point.

The Monarchs were ten points up after Heat 8 prompting thoughts that they could overcome a 14-point deficit from their recent defeat at Wimborne Road, but the Pirates fought back strongly and narrowed the gap to four points on the night.

Skipper Paco Castagna sealed the home win in Heat 14 to leave the Monarchs third in the Cab Direct Championship with a six-point buffer on the chasing pack, helped by Redcar’s defeat at Glasgow.

Four of Edinburgh’s top five riders scored eight points with Castagna on 7+2 in a solid all-round effort, whilst Richard Lawson (13+2) and Zach Cook (12+1) provided multiple wins for the Pirates.

Castagna said: “It feels amazing, a lot better than last week! I feel we could have won by more, but we needed the win and I’ll take that every day of the week.

“They are a strong side, I know they didn’t have a full side but we didn’t either – we missed Jordy (Loftus) who had been doing so well at home.

“I feel it was a very good meeting. We got to a stage where they got a tactical and came back at us but we had a team talk, we put our heads down and kept plugging away. I feel that in the heats we have struggled in the past like 12, 13, and 14 we went out and did well.”

Cook said: “Unfortunately we let a fair bit slip at the start of the meeting and we just weren’t making starts, and I think they were vital tonight.

“Everyone seemed to take a little bit longer to get themselves sorted than we would have liked and Edinburgh took advantage of it.  

“They are good round here, but I believe that over two legs we can be confident of beating them if we come up against them in the play-offs.”

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO