Edinburgh Monarchs v Birmingham Brummies

Report

EDINBURGH secured the final play-off place in the Cab Direct Championship with two wins in a double header at Armadale on Friday.

The Monarchs slammed Plymouth 60-29 before defeating Birmingham 38-34 in a much closer second fixture which was halted by the curfew with three races remaining.

The Brummies could have overhauled the home side in the table, but only with a big away victory to secure the aggregate point, and this was out of the question by the time of the stoppage.

Edinburgh guest Richard Lawson was unbeaten in both meetings whilst Josh Pickering scored a maximum in the Plymouth match.

But the second fixture saw several spills with Bastian Borke ruled out for the Monarchs with a shoulder injury, whilst Brummies guest Kyle Howarth and reserve Sam Hagon were also withdrawals.

Pickering said: “The track was perfect, a bit of dirt on the inside and a bit on the outside, just how it should be. No holes or bumps developing, stayed smooth all night.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
EDINBURGH 38: Richard Lawson 9, Kye Thomson 8, Josh Pickering 8, Luke Killeen 5+3, Paco Castagna 5+1, Lasse Fredriksen 3, Bastian Borke 0
BIRMINGHAM 34: Justin Sedgmen 10, Troy Batchelor 9, Alfie Bowtell 6+2, Stefan Nielsen 3+1, Sam Hagon 3, Kyle Howarth 2, Paul Starke 1+1
Abandoned after heat 12 due to curfew – Result STANDS
Edinburgh win the aggregate point

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO