Edinburgh secured an easy victory over a Stoke side who provided more resistance than in their recent visits to the Arena.
Monarchs took an early lead and were never challenged. Stoke saved themselves from a bigger defeat by use of tactical substitutions that yielded 5-1 advantages in heats 8 and 14, their only heat advantages.
Peter Carr was once again so far in front of everyone else that the heats he was involved with were no contest. Robert Eriksson dropped a single point to Paul Pickering but wasn't threatened in his other heats. Kevin Little produced his best score in weeks with 7 paid 9 from four rides. Will Beveridge and Blair Scott weighed in with good scores. Ross Brady had an off day while Christian Henry was good value but down on his usual points haul.
Paul Pickering, a perennial Armadale underachiever, appears to have finally sussed out the track and had three successive heat wins in a score of 13 from six points. David Walsh, while not at his best, scored 10 points from six rides. Mark Burrows and Tony Atkin both produced decent performances. René Madsen was way off the pace as were reserves Wayne Broadhurst and Steven McAllister despite a good heat two.
Current Premier League results and tables are as follows:
Monarchs go second in the Premier League. They must now be regretting the failure to win at Glasgow and Stoke since the four points lost would have put Monarchs right in the title race.