Pickering scores 13 but Monarchs out of KO Cup

Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs exited the Knockout Cup on a 92-87 aggregate despite winning the second-leg of the quarter-final 47-43 at Armadale.

The nine-point deficit from the first-leg in Dorset proved too much for the home side to make up but Monarchs did gave their fans hope with a bright opening.

Josh Pickering and Lasse Fredriksen combined for a 5-1 in the first race. Monarchs also won the next three three to move eight points ahead on the night at 16-8 and one behind on aggregate. 

Poole upped a gear to win the next six races and put the tie to bed with Tom Brennan top scoring with 11 points and skipper Ben Cook colecting ten.

Josh Pickering totalled 13 to top score for the home side with Justin Sedgmen next best on ten and captain Paco Castagna scored eight points but Kye Thomson could only manage four in the defeat.

Monarchs gave their fans something to cheer with a 5-1 in the final race thanks to a win from Pickering with Sedgmen second ahead of Cook and Brennan but the first-leg deficit proved too much to make up.  

MONARCHS: Pickering 13, Fredriksen 5, Thomson 4, Castagna 8, Sedgmen 10, James 4, Coles 3.

PIRATES: Lawson 7, Thomson 7, Brennan 11, Zach Cook 5, Ben Cook 10, Hagon 2, Perry 1.

RESULTS: Cab Direct Championship: Glasgow 47 (Chris Harris 15), Workington 43 (Craig Cook 10+1); Redcar 44 (Charles Wright 14), Scunthorpe 46 (Michael Palm Toft 10). Cab Direct KO Cup, quarter-final, second-leg: Edinburgh 47 (Josh Pickering 13), Poole 43 (Tom Brennan 11). Poole win 92-87 on aggregate

PICTURE: Action from Armadale by Nigel Duncan

SIGN HERE PLEASE: Josh Pickering signs a plaster cast in the pits for a delighted young fan. Picture Nigel Duncan

BUSY BOY: The same fan gets Lasse Fredriksen to add his signature. Picture Nigel Duncan