Stellar Monarchs’ team manager, Alex Harkess, reflected on their midweek defeat at Glasgow Tigers and admitted: “Josh (Pickering) carried the team.”
Crocked Justin Sedgmen was missing and there were no guest options available for Monarchs who skidded to a 50-40 defeat despite a sensational 20-point haul from Pickering and Harkess said: “It was a shame really we couldn’t do more.
“The bottom line is we can’t carry rider replacement away from home. Unfortunately, in this particular case, we had a rider booked who called off late and we paid the penalty for that.
“I believe with a reasonable guest the score would have been a lot closer.”
He added: “Josh was exceptional as he tends to be. He carried the team and full marks to him.”
Glasgow team manager, Cami Brown, praised the solid all-round performance of the Allied Vehicles Tigers and the result keeps the Ashfield combine’s play-off hopes alive.
Tigers produced a solid display and Brown said: “We had to dig in at times to get that result. We knew Edinburgh would be tough.
“Obviously, they got the 5-1 in the opening race which was a bit of a setback, but, in the end, all the boys had their moments.”
He praised James Pearson and Leon Flint and gave a special mention for Tom Spencer.
Sportingly, Brown admitted: “There’s little doubt that Josh Pickering was different class. He has been the best visitor to Ashfield this season by some margin, but they (Edinburgh) just didn’t have sufficient back-up for him whereas all our lads contributed in a big way.”
The ten-point win keeps the Tigers in the hunt to squeeze into the top four and secure a play-off slot and Brown added: “It was about getting the win.
“We’ll have to win at Armadale anyway if we are going to make the top four and every meeting is a cup final now. We will give it all we’ve got and next is Oxford at Ashfield and that’s going to be a blockbuster.”
PICTURE: Alex Harkess (left) with co-promoter John Campbell. Picture Nigel Duncan
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