Monarchs and Pirates Up For The Cup

PREVIEW Friday 3rd May 2024, 9:45am

by Jim Milton

  Edinburgh Monarchs

For the second weekend in a row the Stellar Monarchs are tasked with recovering points arrears from away defeats to give themselves a chance of continued involvement in two different competitions.

Last Friday, in the BSN Series, Monarchs required to claw back just four points from Berwick Bandits to secure the crucial aggregate bonus point that would set up an epic double-headed decider against Glasgow later in the month (Friday May 10th at Ashfield followed by the Armadale return 21 days later)

Against Berwick, in what was Edinburgh's first home outing of the season, the Monarchs took just three heats to turn the four-point. Shortfall on its head with a trio of 4-2 advantages. Thereafter, the Bandits were restricted to just two heat advantages of their own as their Scot's' conquerors eased their way to a comfortable 53-37 triumph that earned them the bonus point with something to spare.

It was a fairly decent performance across the board from the Stellar Monarchs, highlighted by three riders - Joshie Pickering, Justin Sedgmen and a revitalised (with thee heat wins from his four rides) Kye Thomson - all weighing in with points tallies in double-figures.

Following Berwick's similar bonus point surrender to Glasgow, a place in the semi-finals of the BSN Series will now come down to who comes out on top of what promises to be a mouthwatering showdown between the great Scottish rivals with that bonus point once again front and centre as to why is at stake.

This Friday too, progress in the Knockout Cup will be dependant on Edinburgh's ability to make up a first leg deficit, this time by the slightly more challenging margin of nine points to Poole Pirates.

Not that getting away so lightly from Wimborne Road is anything to be sniffed at, of course.

Nevertheless, the Monarchs will be under no illusions as to what will be needed to overcome this Pirates outfit. With former Glasgow big-hitters Richard Lawson and Tom Brennan, as well as brothers Ben and Zach Cook, leading their charge, seeing off such a capable team would certainly be considered a sterling achievement this early in the season.

Yet a number of our home riders - Joshie, Sedgmen, Paco - are steadily beginning to come in to their own just now so Friday's clash looks like it has all the making of a real classic."

Full Result Details