Academy off the mark in style

REPORT Friday 12th July 2024, 10:46pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

The Stellar Monarchs Academy won for the first time this season, picking up their first league points, though of course it is only their second home match. A 15-point gap should give them a good chance of the aggregate bonus at least, when they head for the Ecco Arena (though that isn't tomorrow as the match is off already).

It was a deserved win although it would probably have been closer had Ben Trigger been available to ride for the visiting Tigers. Matt Marson the guest wasn't able to replicate the points Trigger would likely have scored. The Academy were not all present either as Sam McGurk broke down on the way, which apparently entitles you to rider replacement in the NDL.

Team boss Scott Wilson, who works so hard for the cause, was a happy man. He said "I'm really pleased, I thought we were excellent. I said to the boys beforehand that we really needed to come together to cover for Sam and we did that.

"Connor Coles was excellent at no. 1 with a maximum, that's what we signed him for, and Max Perry was also superb. I'd mention Mason Watson also, he came here to learn to ride smaller tracks and he showed how well he is doing that."

The match started scrappily but there was some good racing as the evening progressed. The foundation for victory was laid in the first two heats with the Academy going 10-1 ahead! Mulford fell while behind the home pair in heat 1, and visiting no. 7 William Hocaniuk was unlucky in heat 2, leading a heat that was stopped when his partner fell. William also fell after gating again in the rerun allowing the home reserves a maximum. Young Hocaniuk looked a good prospect throughout for the visitors.

Picking out the highlights thereafter, Max Perry provided quite a few. He would not win any prizes for gating but in heat 4 he brilliantly passed both Marson and Hocaniuk in one move, and he did something very similar in heat 7 against Phillips and Halder.

Heat 6 saw a good battle between Marson and Watson until the home man fell. However Watson got further reward for a steady night's work with a heat 8 victory and a paid win in heat 10.

Heat 9 was another good one with Marson leading but overhauled by both Wood and Perry. At that stage Max Perry was unbeaten from three rides.

The undoubted star of the show though was Connor Coles who was probably better tonight than in any meeting this season at any level. He dominated Mulford, rated top man in the NDL, form that the Championship Monarchs will hope he can keep going.

Heat 15 was another highlight, with Danny Phillips showing hitherto unseen speed by shooting ahead. Coles though caught him and passed on the outside and kept himself ahead of Mulford for the third time, completing his full 15.

Full Result Details