SHEFFIELD Tigers were left just short of a Premier League point after a fine effort at Edinburgh on Friday.
Still missing the injured Josh Auty and Ricky Ashworth, Tigers remained in contention against the reigning Premier League champions for most of the meeting, but the final margin of eight allowed the Monarchs to take all three league points.
The early stages saw a trading of 5-1s, Sheffield conceding in Heats 1 and 3 but hitting back in the reserves’ race, an area where they dominated.
And they didn’t enjoy the best of fortune early on with guest Aaron Summers timed out of the first race, and both Hugh Skidmore and Simon Lambert taking falls in subsequent heats.
But a costlier moment came in Heat 9 when Shane Parker came down as Kalle Katajisto locked up in front of him – and he was far from happy when the race continued and the Monarchs took a vital 5-1.
That put the home side six points to the good and the closing stages were dominated by 3-3s, but the crucial break came in Heat 13 when Edinburgh edged a 4-2 advantage with Parker forced wide on the first bend.
Tigers needed a heat advantage from either of the last two races to snatch a point, but Katajisto covered Heat 14 for the hosts and although top-scorer Parker won the last, Summers was relegated to the back behind Katajisto and Craig Cook which gave Edinburgh the margin they needed.
EDINBURGH 49: Craig Cook 12, Kalle Katajisto 11+2, Andrew Tully 9+2, Matthew Wethers 8+2, James Grieves 7+1, Adam McKinna 1+1, Lee Dicken 1.
