The Staggs Bar Monarchs went down 54-36 at Eastbourne, one of the toughest places in the UK to score well, in a match which flared-up in Heat 14.

Eye-witnesses said Joel Andersson and Eagles’ rider Alfie Bowtell had to be separated after a racing incident.

Skipper Ricky Wells was Monarchs top scorer with 12 and a bonus but none of the other riders reached double figures.

Former Glasgow Tigers rider Richard Lawson was best for the home side with 14 points with another former Tigers rider Lewis Kerr weighing in with 11 along with Edward Kennett who used to ride for Berwick Bandits.

John Campbell, Monarchs’ team manager, said “It was dry and very, very dusty in front of a big crowd. Their reserves passed ours in Heat 2 but apart from that, there wasn’t a lot of overtaking.

“The scoreline was not unexpected. Ricky was our most competitive rider, though he was still sore from his crash at Armadale last week.

“He didn’t feel able to take a tactical substitute ride in Heat 6, but he did manage to take one in Heat 9.

“Connor Coles was fine, William Lawson made a start in Heat 12 and led that race for a time, which shows what he is capable of if he could ever make a start, but he rarely does.”

Campbell added: “We were eight points down at Heat 8, and a couple of 1-5 reverses in the second half of the match helped widen the gap to 18 by the end of the night.”

Wells and Swedish-born Andersson were Monarchs race winners, Joel’s coming in Heat 14 after the “stramash” with Bowtell.

Monarchs spokesman said Bowtell brought Andersson off in the first running of the heat.

Eastbourne Eagles (54): Edward Kennett 11+1, Ben Morley 4+1, Kyle Newman 4+0, Lewis Kerr 11+1, Richard Lawson 14+0, Alfie Bowtell 4+0, Georgie Wood 6+1

Edinburgh Monarchs (36): Ricky Wells 12+1, Victor Palovaara 2+1, Paul Starke 5+0, Joel Andersson 4+1, Cameron Heeps 6+0, William Lawson 3+0, Connor Coles 4+1

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