Academy Close At Kent

It was another frustrating day on the road for the Stellar Monarchs Academy as they went down 48-41 at Kent on Sunday a result that at least means the aggregate bonus point was gained as a small consolation.

On a day where many points were left on the track due to falls and engine malfunctions Academy boss Scott Wilson was left to say.

"Ultimately, it's a disappointing day as the target in the camp was to win the match. We made things difficult for ourselves again with some falls and a retirement when in scoring positions, and ultimately it was too much to overcome.

"We've come away with the bonus point, which was the minimum objective today, but we all wanted the win. Hopefully we can be as close to our full team as possible for the final home match in a couple of weeks and give those fans that have supported us this season a win to round off the year."

Wilson's men started brightly enough and with Max Clegg and Jacob Hook always among the points the Academy had a four-point lead after five races with Clegg and Hook already with 11 to their name at this point.

Heat six would be the start of the downfall as both Dayle Wood and Jason Garrad hit the deck and were excluded meaning a five nil for the hosts and they had a lead they would then never surrender.

The dropping of points continued as the home men took advantage and stretched their lead, Garrad's bike would give up while in second in heat 9 with Hook coming down while in the same position a race later.

Clegg was always in the thick of it and he was involved in the two race of the day contenders.

First up in heat 13 where after a poor gate he went in search of home pairing Nathan Ablitt and Ben Morley, passing and re-passing Morley before just missing out on snatching the win away on the line.

Clegg would save his best till last as he come out on top of another excellent battle with Morley in the last race.

As it was it was too little too late for the Academy who were excellently led by the Yorkshireman who finished on 16 points, Hook with 10 the main back-up.

Elsewhere there were moments for all of Wood, Garrad and Mickie Simpson but not consistently enough for the Academy to challenge for the win.

For the home men there was double digit returns for all of Morley, Ablitt, Tom Woolley and perhaps most impressively Ashton Vale at reserve who recorded his first ever race wins at this level on the day.

So, two matches remaining now for the Monarchs Academy with a home match on the 22nd of this month against Mildenhall rounding off the year.

Kent 48: Morley 12, Laker 1+1, Woolley 11, Ablitt 10, Vale 10+1, King 4+1

Stellar Monarchs Academy 41: Clegg 16, Garrad 3+2, Hook 10, Wood 5, Parker 0, Simpson 7+1

Academy Back In Action

The Stellar Monarchs Academy return to the track after a six week break on Sunday as they head to Kent in their penultimate away National League fixture action due to start at midday.

Sadly, the injury bug hasn't abated in the Academy camp and it is still a little bit of a makeshift lineup that makes the trip south.

It is shoulder/collarbones injuries that see all of Adam Roynon, Alex Spooner and Kyran Lyden miss out.

Roynon the nearest to a return but also the one that couldn't be replaced in this one as each of the multitude of riders asked were unavailable for one reason or another.

So, it will be rider replacement for Adam with all the other Academy riders able to deputise.

Elsewhere former Mildenhall man Jason Garrad steps in for Spooner and Mark Parker continues to deputise for Lyden.

The rest of the Academy is as expected with the latest averages seeing Dayle Wood now up into the main body of the team and Parker at reserve.

While the playoffs are now out of reach for the Monarchs Academy (only top two in the final standings qualify) there is still plenty to race for for the Academy with this one of three matches remaining so they will be going all out to give it their best with a 15 point lead for the bonus point also in place.

Stellar Monarchs Academy : Max Clegg, Jason Garrad, Jacob Hook, Dayle Wood, Adam Roynon R/R, Mark Parker, Mickie Simpson