MONARCHS TAKE CHARGE

EDINBURGH are in control of their Championship play-off quarter-final after winning 51-39 in the first leg at Redcar on Sunday.

Josh Pickering starred for the Monarchs with 13 points and his total was matched by impressive reserve Drew Kemp, with No.1 Sam Masters adding 10+2.

Jake Allen scored 11 for the Bears and Charles Wright picked up 10+1 but the home side suffered from the absence of the injured Michael Palm Toft and now have an uphill task when they visit Armadale.

Pickering said: “We came here with every intention to win. We got the draw early in the season, but that was our first away match and we hadn’t had any practice so tonight we knew we would go better.

“We are here to win, home and away we are going to be very strong. For me, I was just focused on winning races, that’s my job now for this team and I need to score as many as possible.”

Redcar co-promoter Jamie Swales said: “Having to run rider replacement was the key difference in my opinion this evening but you could not fault the lack of effort from our guys.

“Jordan Jenkins hurt his wrist again which didn’t help but rider replacement returned two points and even if Tofty was having a bad night he would return at least six for us.”

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE