Tigers snatch it at the last gasp

A heat 15 5-1 from their two most impressive riders Dan Thompson and Kyle Howarth gained Glasgow a 46-44 away victory in a thrilling match, one which virtually guarantees that they will top the section in the early season BSN series. They have already won at Berwick.

Monarchs team captain Paco Castagna said "It was a very narrow loss, a heat 15 loss is never nice but I think the team showed what they can do tonight. It is a 'young' team which hasn't been together long. I think not long ago we won at Glasgow so we'll see what is possible, I have faith in what's coming!"

Glasgow managed the win with Chris Harris having an off-night by his standards, and with their reserve pairing scoring just the single point from heat 2. They owed much to their final heat pairing but also to a battling display by Leon Flint and improvement by Ashton Boughen on previous performances this season.

The home side were ultimately disappointed but there were some definite plus points for them as well, none more so than Polish star Oskar Polis who won two of his four heats on his way to a total of 9, an outstanding debut.

Victor Palovaara was the other high achiever for Monarchs and was a little unlucky not to score more. Full marks to Dayle Wood for his contribution but they needed a bit more from their most experienced men Justin Sedgmen and Kye Thomson. Sedgy did win heat 13.

It had been a tight match throughout with the lead passing from one team to the other, or more often level. There were some great tussles, starting with heat 3 in which captain Castagna took Howarth from the back. Paco looked well in the mood in the early stages but could not find the gas to take anything from heats 13 or 15.

Polis had gated in his first heat but dropped back to third, then flew home for his first win in heat 5 to the delight of the home fans.

As in their previous home match the two Swedes teamed up for heat 8, with Palovaara winning but Jonatan Grahn just missing out in a terrific battle with Boughen for second. That levelled the scores.

Glasgow took a 5-1 in heat 10 against the home opening pair with Sedgmen disappointingly at the back, but just as we thought that could be the decisive move Monarchs hit back in another thriller, Castagna winning and Palovaara defeating Harris in a great battle.

At last Sedgmen came to life for heat 13, winning a shared heat, and heat 14 was the race of the night. Four laps with Polis, Palovaara and Flint duelling at high speed, it looked like a home 5-1 most of the way but the determined Flint caught Victor coming off the last bend,

That proved crucial and left the door open for the two top Tigers to finish the job. As we've said a few times, Monarchs tend to need a bit of an advantage coming in to these closing heats.

Monarchs have now raced Glasgow three times and only won the one away from home! Tomorrow they go to Berwick with four guests in their lineup due to international commitments.

Tigers return in the BSN Series

We are in to BSN Series action this weekend after the remarkable results in the Scottish Cup, and it so happens it is Glasgow again who provide the opposition on Friday at Armadale. The teams were very evenly matched over the initial weekend, the Stellar Monarchs taking a 4-point defeat at home and winning by 2 at Ashfield.

Both teams will be keener than ever to improve on those scores though Monarchs don't return to Ashfield till next month. Glasgow put themselves in a strong position in the section by winning at Berwick last Saturday and for sure will have a big support behind them on Friday.

Oskar Polis makes his home debut for Monarchs. Both teams will be at full strength apart from the Monarchs change at no. 7 to bring in Dayle Wood as a guest following the announcement that Max James has withdrawn from the side for the time being. Monarchs will be aware that Tigers' no. 7 Max Perry was a match-winner for them at Berwick.

Monarchs' Swedish reserve Victor Palovaara will definitely be a key man. He said "Obviously, Glasgow beat us last time and we need to turn that around this time, I expect us to do better. We want to win every meeting, but you start by winning at home then go from there for the away meetings. We know how important all home meetings are especially against Glasgow, so we need to go do it on Friday and show what we are made off."

Friday's match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 25th April: Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers (BSN Series), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Justin Sedgmen, Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Oskar Polis, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Victor Palovaara, Dayle Wood (Guest).

ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Chris Harris, Ashton Boughen, Dan Thompson, Leon Flint, Kyle Howarth, Freddy Hodder, Max Perry.

Following the senior match, there will be a National Junior League match between West Lothian Wildcats and Ashfield Giants.

On Saturday Monarchs head to Berwick for their BSN Series match against the Bandits, start time at Shielfield 7:00pm.