Edinburgh Monarchs shoot down Berwick Bandits as race for semi-finals heats up

Kye Thomson turned in a faultless 15-point maximum with No.1 Dan Thompson also going through the card unbeaten by an opponent.

Kye Thomson, leading, is in excellent form. Picture: Jack Cupido

The visitors were dealt a devastating blow in the opening heat when Peter Kildemand suffered an awkward looking fall, becoming entangled with Thompson down the back straight and landing heavily on the shale.

The Dane was subsequently ruled out of the meeting complaining of a shoulder injury.

And with the Bandits now up against it, the hosts took full advantage. Skipper Paco Castagna remarkably took his place in the saddle following his frightening crash against the Redcar Bears just a week earlier. But the Italian showed no ill-effects from that frightening heat three tumble where he was catapulted over the air fence to take an excellent victory over former Monarch Victor Palovaara and Jye Etheridge. He went on to score seven with Justin Sedgmen also having a fine night, dropping just the one point to Nick Morris in heat nine.

But the star of the night was Australian Thomson, who was electric away from the gate, and riding smoothly for four laps.

Monarchs now head for Shielfield Park for the return fixture this evening where a second victory over the Bandits in 24 hours would put them top of the section and set up a winner-takes-all showdown at Ashfield against Glasgow tomorrow afternoon.

"It was one of those nights where everything ran smoothly," 27-year-old Thomson said. "I'm pretty consistent at the moment and that's always been my goal. This year all the boys are trying to help out, talking to each other, and sharing things, so it's definitely paying off.

"It's been a bit of a slow start. Some of us are firing and others there's been a few dramas, but we don't let it beat us. We're all working together and have been talking a lot and trying to get the young boys going from where they left off last year. It was good out there, we've come out with a strong win against a strong side.

"The reserves were really having a crack. But it was also good to get some really big scores in. We're feeling confident, we've got some big meetings again and we just want to carry that momentum. It's all to play for."