Cheetahs Can't Be Caught

REPORT Thursday 13th July 2023, 7:24am

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It was another fruitless night on the road for the Stellar Monarchs as they went down 54-36 to league leaders Oxford in a match that was competitive on track if not particularly close on the score line.

The home men exerted their dominance from the off taking heat advantages in three of the first four races and the chase was already on for the Monarchs at this stage with team boss John Campbell saying after

"The performance was much more competitive than the final score suggests.

"Craig Cook was at his terrific best including an excellent win in what was a sensational heat 13.

"Josh Pickering was trying everything to get more speed from his bike and I am certain that he will be back scoring more points very soon.

"Nothing was going right for Kye Thomson but we know what a good rider he is and he will bounce back.

"Dayle Wood rode a steady race in heat two to pick up some points and was unlucky to shed a chain at the start line in his second ride. The chain whipped his leg leaving a very nasty gash and we hope this heals quickly. He powered on to take his third ride and showed good speed.

"Bastian Borke and Lasse Fredriksen also had their moments but the overall performance wasn't enough to hold back one of the form teams in the league.

"We now look forward to an important match on Friday."

With Cook in fine form the Monarchs were never at risk of an embarrassment but despite best endeavors the heat winning backup required to claw back into the contest could not be found.

That is not to say there wasn't entertainment throughout even from the start with Henry Atkins riding a clever line to hold off Josh Pickering in heat one, Dayle Wood doing the same to Ryan Kinsley in heat two and an excellent battle between Jordan Jenkins and Bastian Borke in heat five.

The seventh race was a killer for the Monarchs, Pickering brought in as a tactical substitute found himself behind the two Cheetahs out the start with home man Scott Nicholls team riding to perfection to hold Pickering at bay to secure the home maximum and from then it was damage limitation with the home men now ten points to the good.

The home men would stretch their legs a little taking further heat advantages in heats nine, ten, fourteen and fifteen as only Cook would take the checkered flag the rest of the way.

The best of these wins on the night undoubtedly being heat thirteen where Cook, had to pass and re-pass home top men Nicholls and Masters in a blistering effort.

Attention now turns to a critical home match against Plymouth at Armadale on Friday night.

Oxford 54: Masters 10+1, Atkins 6+1, Jenkins 11, Nicholls 16+1, Heeps 10+2, Kinsley 1, Scott 0

Stellar Monarchs 36: Pickering 7, Borke 4+1, Thomson 5, Cook 13, Wood 1+1, Fredriksen 6+1

Full Result Details