Academy Feel Brunt Of Lions Roar

REPORT Saturday 24th June 2023, 10:42pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

There was a sense of frustration for the Stellar Monarchs academy on Saturday night as they went down 53-37 at Leicester in a match where points were often left on the track.

That is to take nothing whatsoever away from the home side who duly capitalised and were led brilliantly by the unbeaten Dan Thompson and hot prospect Ashton Boughton who raced to a paid 15 point haul.

Academy team boss Scott Wilson saying after

'I can't fault the effort of the guys tonight, they gave me everything, but we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. We threw away points on at least four occasions which would have made the scoreline look much more favourable.

'I must give a special mention to Ashton Boughen - what a talent he is! A number two going unbeaten in his four programmed rides is a matchwinner for any side in any league. Jacob (Hook) did well to lower his colours twice at the end.

'We dust ourselves down and look ahead to two meetings with Berwick next weekend. We must get back to winning ways.'

Wilson's men held their own in the early stages despite conceding a 1st heat 5-1 they hit back with one of their own to level and with five races gone the home lead was only two.

A trio of home maximums over the next five races all involving Boughen meant the meeting would slip away.

To their credit the Monarchs side battled manfully the rest of the way with with heat wins for all of their top men Max Clegg, Adam Roynon and Hook over the final third of the meeting but the difference on the night was that no backup could be found in these heat wins.

The stats proving this as the home men only recorded one more race win than the Monarchs but last places were telling this stat an unfavorable 12-3 against.

There is a chance for a quick bounce back for Wilson and his side though as they return to home shale next Friday, Berwick the opposition.

Leicester Lion Cubs 53 : Thompson 14+1, Boughen 13+2, Perry 9, Coles 7, Ward 5+3, James 5+3

Stellar Monarchs Academy 37 : Clegg 9, Lyden 0, Roynon 9, Hook 12+1, Wood 3, Simpson 4+2

Full Result Details