Another monster win

Not many people would believe that having scored 69 against Redcar last week, we would come up with 65 points against Scunthorpe tonight, especially after the Scorpions had won impressively away from home against Sheffield on Thursday. But the Staggs Bar Monarchs were unstoppable again.

Home captain Erik Riss said "It was an easy win again and three maximums. The track is much grippier than it was at the start of the season and I think that suits us. Ricky and I have always asked for it to be like that, and now Josh and Richie like it as well. I believe we are now almost unbeatable at home."

Whereas the Redcar match had been, by common consent, quite an enjoyable fixture with a fair bit of entertainment, the same could not be said of tonight's match with a pretty feeble show from the opposition. Jake Allen was their only strong performer though admittedly they enjoyed little luck with Jason Garrity ruled out due to a road accident, Gino Manzares crashing out in his second ride and of course Stefan Nielsen already missing. Team manager Dave Peat didn't know which way to turn.

We should however concentrate on the home side. They are in really stunning form and certainly enjoying the conditions which are being provided for them. Erik Riss (rocketing from the starts), Richie Worrall (incredibly determined round the first turn and dominating races from there) and Ricky Wells (gliding through untroubled) were all maximum scorers for the second week running. Josh Pickering nearly made it to the same achievement but could not catch Allen in heat 15.

Palovaara and Andersson again were very good also, and Max Clegg was trying different lines and nearly caught Steve Worrall in one heat. It was again virtually a complete performance.

We've had the track quite grippy and well watered the past two weeks but you have to wonder how the home riders can adapt instantly and without exception, while the last two visiting teams have found things so difficult. Steve Worrall in particular struggled tonight, being passed by both Monarchs in heat 1 and then falling on the second bend after gating in his second ride. He was announced for heat 15 (to everyone's surprise) but didn't appear.

Ricky Wells summed things up post meeting: "A track like that separates the men from the boys. And we have a team full of men."

Monarchs Looking To Avoid Scunthorpe Sting

The Staggs Bar Monarchs continue their playoff push this week as we welcome an exciting looking Scunthorpe to Armadale.

The Scorpions have been absolutely decimated by injuries this year starting from their first home meeting of the year when number 1 Stevie Worrall was the victim of a broken leg. Almost all of the rest of the team have missed matches at some point but it appears that this curse may be lifting as the Scorpions are now close to full strength with only Stefan Nielsen missing.

The Lincolnshire men were highly tipped at the start of the season to be serious playoff contenders and while these injuries have taken there toll with 2 home defeats already putting a big dent into these playoff chances all is not lost and they still have the meetings required to catch up. The strength of the team is evident especially on Thursday night as they destroyed Sheffield away from home gaining 4 points and while they are still behind the last of the playoff challengers a couple of results on the road this weekend starting at Armadale could change things quickly.

The strength of the Scorpions appears to be at the top end with a heat leader trio of Stevie Worrall, Jason Garrity and Josh Auty when on song among the most exciting and powerful in the league. They are well backed up by Jake Allen. As previously mentioned Stefan Nielsen misses out but can be covered by Garrity, Allen, Gino Manzares and Danny Phillips at reserve so while Nielsen is a miss if used correctly rider replacement should not weaken the Scorpions to much.

For the Staggs Bar Monarchs it is meeting 2 for the new look line-up and it has to be said that it will be very hard to top the first one. While no one was expecting Redcar to challenge last week a 69-21 score-line was not in anyone's thinking pre-match with all the Monarchs paid for at least 1 heat win and four of the 7 going through the card. I think it is safe to say that will not be replicated tonight and the Monarchs will need to be at their best to prevail and the home men will have the benefit of being at full strength as they look to achieve this.

The playoff picture is still a little muddied due to the difference in matches raced but as it stands the Monarchs currently have the 4th best record based on away points gained minus home points lost. There is still a long way to go though and it is paramount that the Monarchs at the very least maintain the unbeaten home league record before we look to away matches to come.

Can the boys hold off the challenge of the Scorpions and keep that charge going? There is only one place to be to find out and that's trackside.

See you there!