Dan Thompson and Kye Thomson spearheaded Edinburgh Monarchs’ charge into the semi-finals of the BSN series with a sensational victory at arch rivals, Glasgow Tigers.
The victory is considered one of the most surprising results for the club in many years according to a Monarchs’ spokesman and the 49-41 win at Ashfield sent the Capital combine on to six points to top the Scottish group.
Berwick are second on five points and qualify for the next stage as best runners-up and Tigers are third on four points, all teams having raced in four meetings.
This one went to the wire. Monarchs led 44-40 going into the last race and the visitors needed to win the match to qualify for the next phase.
Thompson and Thomson made the gate. Glasgow’s Chris Harris didn’t move from the start and Monarchs’ pair fought off the attention of ex-Berwick star, Leon Flint, for a 5-1.
Monarchs spokesman added: “It was a result we could only have dreamed of.”
The turn-around comes after a disappointing 57-33 defeat at Berwick Bandits in the same competition on Saturday and John Campbell, Monarchs’ co-promoter, admitted: “I wasn’t confident that we could do well at Berwick, whereas here (in Glasgow) we obviously had two guys who could win lots of races. Others chipped in.”
He added: “There was a real feeling in the team before the meeting that we had a chance, and they came up with just the right rides at the right time.”
The return of ex-Tigers star, Dan Thompson, was pivotal, so was the contribution of in-form Kye Thomson, but this was a team triumph with everyone chipping in.
Glasgow Tigers (41): Chris Harris 9+1, Mario Hausl 4+0, Leon Flint 9+0, Kevin Juhl Pedersen 4+1, Kyle Howarth 7+0, Sam Hagon 3+1, Freddy Hodder 5+0
Edinburgh Monarchs (49): Dan Thompson 11+0, Jonatan Grahn 4+0, Justin Sedgmen 7+1, Paco Castagna 7+0, Kye Thomson 13+1, Mitch Cluff 2+0, Jordy Loftus 5+2
TALK-IN: Chris Harris (left), Kyle Howarth (centre) and Dan Thompson in the pits. Picture Nigel Duncan
