In-form Aussie Sam Masters top scored for Edinburgh Monarchs against Redcar Bears

SGB Championship: Edinburgh Monarchs 56, Redcar Bears 34

Edinburgh: Sam Masters 15, Mark Riss 5, Erik Riss 11, Josh Pickering 6, Ricky Wells 6, Max Clegg 7, Mitchell Davey 6

Redcar: Jason Garrity 0, Jonas B Andersen 11, Ben Barker 12, Ellis Perks 2, Charles Wright 5, Coty Garcia 3, Matt Williamson 1

Inspirational skipper Sam Masters powered to a 15-point maximum as Edinburgh Monarchs savaged Redcar Bears 56-34 in the SGB Championship at Armadale.

And team-mate Erik Riss also moved into double-figures on a night when riders found the track difficult.

Ben Barker was best for Bears with 12 points and Jonas B Andersen was next best with 11 but this proved a comfortable win for the home side.

Bears were not helped after their captain Jason Garrity withdrew from the meeting after crashing in heat one.

Monarchs were six points ahead after the fifth race but skipper Masters and Mark Riss won Heat Six for a 5-1 to extend their advantage to 23-13.

The home side extended their advantage to 37-24 after Heat Ten but the next race was stopped following a crash involving Ricky Wells and his home team-mate Max Clegg. Wells went to the changing room while Clegg took part in the re-run.

Then Bears’ Charles Wright was withdrawn from the meeting after Heat 12 and Monarchs then underlined their superiority.

They won Heat 14 with a 4-2 and wrapped-up their night with a 5-1 courtesy of Masters and Erik Riss in the final face.

Website | + posts

Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.