Playoff Hopes Over

The Staggs Bar Monarchs playoff hopes are officially over after another toothless display on the road going down 60-30 to Berwick.

A huge performance was needed and in all honesty it was never on the cards as the Monarchs found themselves 10 down after 5 heats and the pattern continued in this vein the rest of the way.

Monarchs Aussie star Cameron Heeps saying after 'It was one of those nights I burnt out 2 clutches and I was trying to chase it to find the setup. We'll put tonight behind us though and move onto Newcastle and try and at least finish the away matches with a win'

As is so often the case at Shielfield gating was paramount and the home men were on fire in that regard. None more so than Jye Etheridge who raced to a paid max.

The Bandits are still chasing their own playoff dreams and they knew they could not afford to slip up and after that fast start they put the hammer down further recording maximum heat advantages in each of heats 5,6,7 and 8. The second of these the best of the bunch as Ben Barker went from last to 2nd in the only real race of note in the meeting.

The Monarchs did show some spirit with a pair of 4-2 advantages in heats 9 and 10 but the match was long gone by then and the home men padded their advantage with a further 4 heat advantages in the last 5 races.

The last of these came in heat 15 after Jim McGregor as is so often the case decided that a meeting he officiates could not go without his involvement disqualifying Josh Pickering for lifting at the start much to the astonishment of all 3 sets of fans in the stadium.

So it's on to Newcastle on Sunday night as the Monarchs look to end the year with an away win to break a year long duck.

Maximum Points Required At Berwick

All roads lead down the A1 this Saturday as the Staggs Bar Monarchs take on the Berwick Bandits in Championship action part of a feast of speedway in the borders.

The Bandits vs Monarchs make up the first part of a double header with the Bandits then taking on Glasgow straight after. The tapes due to go up for the Monarchs tussle at 18.30.

The job for the Monarchs couldn't be clearer 4 points are required or it's season over in regards making the end of season playoffs.

This will be no easy task with the Bandits having playoff aspirations off their own and having only tasted defeat once around Shielfield this year.

There is one enforced change to the Bandits line-up with Ben Barker stepping in at number 1 to replace broken foot victim Aaron Summers.

Elsewhere former Monarch Thomas H Jonasson will be looking to build on a 9 point debut last weekend with the middle order always well served by captain Kevin Doolan and Shielfield experts Jye Etheridge and the enigma that is Dany Gappmaier.

Coty Garcia and Leon Flint fill the reserve berths with both also well aware of the quickest way round their home circuit.

For the Staggs Bar Monarchs we line up at full strength after Cameron's successful return this week. Key as always at the borders circuit will be getting out of the gate and that is where an improvement is needed on recent away performances.

It truly will take a Herculean effort of all 4 points are to be secured and our championship hopes extended for another match at least.

Plenty of Monarchs fans are expected in attendance to cheer on the boys and we will need to be in full force to outshout not only the home fans but of course the Tigers fans who no doubt will be cheering on the home men before the Monarchs fans do the same for the second match.

Can the Monarchs do the improbable and take all 4 points required? For those not in attendance live updates will be available as always on the Monarchs official website.