Edinburgh Monarchs on course to face Poole Pirates in play-offs after Scunthorpe blowout
The Edinburgh Monarchs turned in an insipid performance as they went down heavily to play-off rivals the Scunthorpe Scorpions.
Although the Capital side have already secured a place in the semi-finals that are due to get underway next month, it was a night to forget for the Monarchs who were well beaten 61-29 at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
The hosts were streets ahead of the underwhelming Monarchs, who managed just three heat winners - and 13 last places - across 15 races.
The Blue and Gold were second best in every department as the Scorpions, spearheaded by ex-Monarch Josh Pickering, will now have to regroup ahead of tomorrow night's final CAB Direct Championship fixture away to the Berwick Bandits.
With the Monarchs having dropped to fourth in the standings, they will face table-toppers and reigning champions, the Poole Pirates, in the last four, unless they grind out a positive result at Shielfield Park tomorrow evening. If they do, the final line-up won’t be determined until after Glasgow, who are also in the play-offs, race off against Scunthorpe next Friday.
Dan Thompson won two of his five outings in North Lincolnshire to contribute ten, with Kye Thomson also chipping in with a respectable eight, including a heat four win. The returning Jordy Loftus, who has sat out the past couple of weeks with concussion, carried some speed on his way to four, paid five, but that cannot deflect from a hugely frustrating night all round.
Co-promoter John Campbell said afterwards: "It's disappointing for us obviously. we were beaten by a far better team, a team much more motivated than we were who had something to go for. We only had to win to get into third place, so it's a really disappointing night."