Pickering stars for Monarchs but Tigers take points

Josh Pickering, Stellar Monarchs’ No 1, powered to 20 points, but the popular Aussie was unable to help the Edinburgh side skidding to a 50-40 defeat at arch rivals, Glasgow Allied Vehicles Tigers, in the Cab Direct Championship.

The 27-year-old (pictured) won six of his seven races including Heat One in which team-mate, Kye Thomson, came home second for a confidence-boosting 5-1 over Chris Harris and Jack Smith, but Tigers bounced back immediately.

James Pearson and Tom Spencer levelled with a 5-1 in the next race over Dayle Wood and Connor Coles, then ex-Berwick Bandits star, Leon Flint and Matic Ivacic took the next 5-1 to take Tigers clear at 11-7.

Monarchs narrowed the gap to 16-14 by winning Heat Five 4-2, but Jack Smith and Harris clicked in the next for a 5-1 scoreline to move Tigers 21-15 ahead and they never looked back.

A 5-1 in Heat Nine followed by a 4-2 in the next saw the home side 35-25 in front. Monarchs won Heat 11 4-2 but Tigers closed out the meeting by drawing Heats 12, 13 and 14 and winning the final race 4-2 with Harris edging Pickering into second place, the only defeat of the night for the Edinburgh star.

Glasgow: Chris Harris 10, Jack Smith 4, Leon Flint 9, Matic Ivacic 5, Anders Rowe 7, James Pearson 12, Tom Spencer 3.

Edinburgh: Josh Pickering 20, Kye Thomson 8, Lasse Fredriksen 5, Paco Castagna 4, rider replacement for Justin Sedgmen, Dayle Wood 0, Connor Coles 3