LEICESTER edged out Scottish giants Edinburgh 47-42 in a tense contest at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena.
The city side remain unbeaten at the Beaumont Park Sports Complex this season - but not without a scare along the way!
Stewart Dickson’s men overcame a new look Edinburgh side to extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points.
Star guest Richard Lawson top scored for the Watling JCB Lions stepping in for the injured Richie Worrall with 14 points from his six rides.
Reserve Connor Mountain paid tribute to Lawson after the meeting and was delighted to pick up another win on home shale.
“We’ve had some brilliant guests over the past few weeks,” said Mountain.
“Rich (Richard Lawson) did a great job tonight and without him putting in such a good performance, it could’ve gone down to the wire.”
“We’re fortunate enough that we can find good coverage for Richie (Worrall) which does help a lot.”
“It was a busy night for myself again having seven rides but I feel that every time I go out on track I’m improving as a rider and look may it continue.”
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the home side who found themselves six points behind in the opening stages of the meeting after being on the wrong side of two 5-1s in the space of three heats.
Number 1 Sam Masters, who returned to Edinburgh earlier this week, led home the second of the maximums with American Ricky Wells close behind.
Boss Stewart Dickson moved swiftly before the following heat, bringing in Lawson as a Tactical Substitute to partner skipper Scott Nicholls.
Dickson’s quick thinking paid off with the pairing bringing home a first maximum of the night for the Watling JCB Lions, reducing Edinburgh’s lead to two points after six heats.
A shared heat followed with Lawson making it three wins out of three before Perks and Mountain teamed up for a Heat eight 4-2 to level the scores.
Leicester then took the lead for the first time on the night with Nicholls taking the chequered flag alongside Perks for a Heat 10 5-1.
Three shared heats later and the contest was finely poised heading into the final two races.
However, victory was confirmed in the following race with Douglas and Mountain cruising to a 5-0 after William Lawson and Connor Coles both failed to complete the race.
Masters completed his 15 point maximum in the final heat of the night where he was joined by fellow Aussie Josh Pickering to salvage a point for the Monarchs.
Leicester travel to Scunthorpe on Friday in the Championship where they will look to pick up more valuable league points at the top of the table.
They are next in action at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday July 27 in a mouthwatering top of the table clash against Glasgow.
LEICESTER 47: Richard Lawson(Guest) 14, Connor Mountain 10+2, Scott Nicholls 8+2, Ellis Perks 7+2, Ryan Douglas 7+1, Joe Lawlor 1+1, Josh Bates R/R.
EDINBURGH 42: Sam Masters 15 (MAX), Josh Pickering 10+2, Cameron Heeps 5, William Lawson 4+1, Ricky Wells 4+1, Matt Marson 2+1, Connor Coles 2.
