Narrow Loss But All Thoughts Are With Danyon

It was close but no cigar for Stellar Monarchs on the road once again as they went down 37-35 at Berwick on Saturday night in a meeting that was abandoned after a heat 12 pile up involving home captain Danyon Hume that resulted in a lengthy delay and the curfew being hit.

The scores were all square as the teams headed into what would become the final heat with a re-run required after Hume was warned for an unsatisfactory start when the Monarchs were well placed.

In that re-start Bandits reserve Jack Smith was away best with Justin Sedgmen behind and Jonatan Grahn doing battle with Hume for third, it looked like the Monarch was set to keep things all square when he caught some unwanted grip on the final bend coming down and leaving Hume with nowhere to go but into Grahn's stricken bike the Englishman coming down hard.

The race was awarded a home 4-2 but all concern was immediately with Hume who was seen to by the paramedics, before it being decided the county ambulance was required leading to the wait that would inevitably end the evening.

Monarchs captain Paco Castagna left to say, "The track was difficult at the start of the meeting and I think we maybe even should have stopped the meeting and allowed some grading but the ref said we were to keep going.

"We pulled back th

A Trip To Bandit Country

After a mix of weather woes and others administrative issues both Stellar Monarchs and the Berwick Bandits are looking forward to getting back to action at Shielfield Park on Saturday night.

The hosts have recovered from an early season BSN Series defeat to Glasgow to boast an unbeaten home league record with fancied Poole and Redcar sent away from Northumberland empty handed so the job at hand for the Monarchs is a large one.

The Monarchs can take confidence from a spirited performance in that same BSN Series group earlier in the season when only a last heat 5-1 gave the home men victory, the feeling in the Monarchs camp that night being but for a Justin Sedgmen injury mid meeting it could have been a victory for the Blue and Gold.

The Monarchs line-up looks a lot different in this one than it did then when three of the seven were missing due to international commitments, Oskar Polis had not thrown in the towel and Max James was being replaced by guests.

So, it is the first visit of the season to Shielfield for Michael Palm Toft and Paco Castagna, the first visit in many years for Victor Palovaara and the first visit ever for Jonatan Grahn and Jordan Loftus.

For the home men they welcome back

Peter Kildemand from a knee injury but Craig Cook misses out with rider replacement in operation.

This gives all of the Bandits an extra ride and one picking up the slack is Drew Kemp. The young Englishman having carried on his fantastic form of late last season to head the Bandits averages when looking at 2025 matches alone.

Danyon Hume and Sam Hagon are a solid middle order who can never be discounted from a big score and at reserve Doyle Wood and Jack Smith pack a punch.

A big 15 heats await with Championship points on the line, tapes-up at 7pm.

Sadly, no stream is available for this one due to the short nature of the arrangement of the fixture but live updates will be available throughout on the Monarchs official website.