Diamonds complete the league programme

NEWS Thursday 26th September 2019, 0:23am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Newcastle Diamonds will provide the opposition to the Staggs Bar Monarchs this Friday (27th September) at Armadale. This will complete the Championship programme for both teams, in fact it is one of only two remaining fixtures in the competition.

A home victory would confirm Monarchs in eighth place in the Championship though if they lose they could be overtaken by either Eastbourne or Newcastle. Obviously both Monarchs and Diamonds have been well used to finishing much higher in the table.

Monarchs will be at full strength for the match while Diamonds will use rider replacement for Thomas Jorgensen, but feature former Monarchs Steve Worrall, Matthew Wethers and Max Clegg. Reserve Ulrich Ostergaard is one to watch having had a new lease of life since joining Diamonds in mid-season.

One thing Newcastle have achieved this season is to make the Cup Final in which they are due to meet Redcar Bears.

Team manager Alex Harkess says "I know that we have been racing Newcastle since Monarchs were formed in 1948 and it is a match both teams always want to win. Many of the meetings have been extremely close. Neither team has reached their goals this season but I'm sure all the riders will be trying to show they are worth their place in next season's lineups."

Friday 27th September: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Newcastle (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

Teams:

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Sam Masters, James Sarjeant, Josh Pickering, Ricky Wells (capt.), Cameron Heeps, William Lawson, Connor Coles.

NEWCASTLE BTS DIAMONDS: Steve Worrall (capt.), rider replacement for Thomas Jorgensen, Lasse Bjerre, Max Clegg, Matthew Wethers, Ulrich Ostergaard, Danny Phillips.