SLENDER LEAD FOR MONARCHS

EDINBURGH were held to a narrow 47-43 home win over Redcar in the first leg of their Championship KO Cup semi-final.

The Monarchs led by eight points after Heat 7 but the Bears hit back strongly despite the loss of Kasper Andersen in a first-ride fall, with reserves Kyle Newman and Jordan Jenkins outscoring their home counterparts 14-7.

Josh Pickering scored 13 for Edinburgh with Paco Castagna adding 10+1, and Sam Masters returned from injury with 9+1, whilst guest Richard Lawson scored 12 for the visitors and Lewis Kerr weighed in with key wins in Heats 13 and 15.

Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “We would obviously have liked more of a lead. We let too many points slip away, and the heavy rain pre-meeting was probably a leveller.

“Redcar were very tenacious though, well done to them and we will be heading south in a fortnight to finish the job.”

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO