BUXTON ‘Ductair’ Bulls suffered a heavy defeat to league leaders Edinburgh Monarchs Academy in the National Development League at Armadale Stadium on Friday night as the Bulls suffered a 59-31 defeat.
The Academy Monarchs had already beaten third-placed Leicester Lion Cubs 65-25 and continued to dominate proceedings against the Bulls, who showed some determination in the opening half of the meeting.
A 4-2 heat advantage in heat two saw the Bulls fall behind as Jamie Halder and Anika Loftus took the spoils, with Jack Shimelt splitting the Monarchs Academy pairing, and they extended their lead two heats later as Dayle Wood and Halder combined for a maximum 5-1 advantage to give the home side a 15-9 lead after four races.
Jordy Loftus and Ben Whalley extended the Scottish side’s lead with a 5-1 over Jack Roberts, giving Edinburgh a ten-point lead, but Buxton reduced the home side’s lead with a 5-1 from Roberts and Charlie Southwick over Anika Loftus after Dayle Wood fell with the Bulls trailing 24-18 after seven heats.
The ‘Ductair’ Bulls then suffered four 5-1 heat advantages and a 4-2 to leave them trailing the league leaders 51-27 as the Monarchs Academy secured victory and the aggregate bonus point with two races remaining.
Vinnie Foord took victory in heat fourteen with Charlie Southwick and Jack Shimelt taking the minor placings, while Jordy Loftus and Foord combined for a final heat 5-1 over Roberts and Southwick.
Bulls team manager Laurence Rogers said, “We battled hard during the meeting and were still in it at the midway point, but they powered home in the second half of the meeting and in the end took a comfortable victory. We battled throughout the meeting, and I’m very proud of the lads.
“It was obvious from the first meeting that they were in no mood to lose their one hundred per cent home record and showed why they are clear at the top of the table.”
EDINBURGH 59:
Jordy Loftus 14, Ashton Vale 12, Ben Whalley 8+3, Jamie Halder 8+2, Dayle Wood 8+1, Vinnie Foord 7+2, Anika Loftus 2
BUXTON 31:
Ben Morley 10, Charlie Southwick 8+2, Jack Roberts 7, Jack Shimelt 3+1, Arran Butcher 2+1, Laylen Richardson 1+1, Luke Harris r/r
Edinburgh win aggregate point
