Cook back for the double header

NEWS Thursday 24th August 2023, 4:31pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs face further drama in their quest for a Playoff place in the Championship this season when they race a double header meeting against the Poole Pirates and Birmingham Brummies on Friday at Armadale, with an earlier start time for the first match (Poole) of 7pm.

Monarchs are still holding sixth place but it is very tight, every point counts and the four sides contesting the final Playoff spot are enjoying very little luck.

A win over Poole would be very much a bonus, but the second match against Birmingham, guided and strengthened by Stewart Dickson, is a must-win for both teams.

Craig Cook will be making a return to action tonight at Ipswich and if that goes well will be in the lineup for tomorrow's double header.

Team manager Alex Harkess says "Birmingham is the one we've got to win, it is as simple as that, though we will certainly set out to win both. I believe if we beat Birmingham and Plymouth here at Armadale that should get us into the Playoffs."

Friday's matches will both be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 25th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Poole Pirates (Championship), Armadale, 7:00pm followed by Edinburgh Monarchs v Birmingham Brummies (Championship)

STELLAR MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Max Clegg, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering (captain), Dayle Wood, Bastian Borke.

WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, Kyle Newman, Ben Cook, Zach Cook, Steve Worrall (captain), Anders Rowe, Joe Thompson.

CURTIS SPORTS BRUMMIES: Richard Lawson (guest), Stefan Nielsen, Troy Batchelor, Alfie Bowtell, Justin Sedgmen (captain), Sam Hagon, Paul Starke.