Edinburgh Monarchs v Poole Pirates

Report

EDINBURGH came up with a big finish to see off Championship holders Poole 49-41 at Armadale.

The Pirates led on several occasions and went back in front with a 5-1 in Heat 12 – but Monarchs stars Sam Masters and Josh Pickering hit back in Heat 13, with Paco Castagna and Jacob Hook adding another maximum in the next.

And the visitors’ hopes of a league point were shattered in Heat 15 despite gating on a 5-1 as Masters and Pickering came through for their own 4-2.

Masters with 13+1 and Pickering with 13 led the Monarchs once again, whilst Steve Worrall (11) and Danny King (10) were best for the Pirates.

Said Masters: “Poole are a very strong team, the strongest in the league I think so to beat them here is awesome, I’m so stoked for the boys.

“I knew they’d push us all the way but everyone did their bit. Heat 14 was massive, I was expecting a last heat decider and they had choice of gates too.”
Poole co-promoter Danny Ford said: “I really felt that we should have got something out of this one, especially as we were leading at one stage, but they came back at us strongly.

“We needed to have done more ahead of Heat 15 as we knew that was going to be extra tough, so when we failed to get anything from Heat 14 it was hugely disappointing.”

CHAMPIONSHIP
EDINBURGH 49: Sam Masters 13+1, Josh Pickering 13, Kye Thomson 8, Jacob Hook 7+1, Paco Castagna 4, James Sarjeant 3, Lasse Fredriksen 1+1
POOLE 41: Steve Worrall 11, Danny King 10, Ben Cook 7+3, Richard Lawson 6, Drew Kemp 4, Nathan Ablitt 3+2, Zach Cook 0
Championship points: Edinburgh 3 Poole 0

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO