Image Credit: Jack Cupido

Panthers On The Prowl

NEWS Wednesday 24th May 2017, 11:55pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This week the Parsons Peebles Monarchs welcome the Peterborough Panthers to Armadale in SGB Championship action.

The visitors have made an inconsistent start to the season and currently sit in 8th place in the table but with some noted Armadale performers in their rank the home men can take nothing for granted this Friday.

One of the reasons the Panthers find themselves towards the bottom of the table is due to their inability to field a full strength team as numerous members of their septet have missed meetings due to injury at various times. The Alwalton men are getting closer to fitness but will travel on Friday with Simon Lambert, Kenneth Hansen and Bradley Wilson Dean all returning from or riding through injury.

Despite the aforementioned return of Lambert, Hansen and Wilson-Dean the Panthers will still travel minus their usual captain Ulrich Ostergaard.

The combative Dane who has an excellent previous record around Armadale is missing due to commitments in his homeland and rider replacement will operate with all of the visitors eligible to take a ride.

However despite the absence of Ostergaard the Panthers cannot be taken likely and with riders with the pedigree of Jack Holder, Paul Starke and Wilson-Dean who have all had excellent meetings in West Lothian in the past the home men will need to be at the top of their game to guarantee all 3 points and this is not lost on co-promoter Alex Harkess with Harkess saying ‘This Friday will be tough with Mark missing and Peterborough have a team where at least half of them will think they can ride Armadale well, however we always expect to win at home and this week is no different. We don’t have enough grip in the track just now to assist our riders in passing at the moment so our guys will need to perform to their bests to make up for being one down.’

As mentioned above the Monarchs are missing one of their usual line-up also as Mark Riss misses out due to German commitments. Unfortunately there is no reciprocal arrangement that allows for a rider replacement or guest facility for German riders and due to this only National League riders are allowed to take their place. The Monarchs are grateful to Luke Ruddick for stepping in.

Teams for the SGB Championship match at Armadale on Friday 26th May (start time 7:30pm, gates open 6:30pm), are:

PARSONS PEEBLES MONARCHS: Ricky Wells, Luke Ruddick (guest), Erik Riss, Josh Pickering, Sam Masters (capt), Max Clegg, Mitchell Davey.

PETERBOROUGH T BALFE CONSTRUCTION PANTHERS: Jack Holder, Ulrich Ostergaard R/R, Paul Starke (capt), Simon Lambert, Kenneth Hansen, Bradley Wilson-Dean, Tom Bacon

PANTHERS LOOKING TO POUNCE: Peterborough will be looking to take advantage of the Monarchs being under strength and with Jack Holder rounding into form at the top end of the team being and being well backed up by Paul Starke and Kenneth Hansen they will be hopeful they can keep the Monarchs top men in check. Bradley Wilson-Dean is the key man at reserve and with the capability of up to 7 rides if required a big performance could turn the match in the Panthers favour.

LAST MEETING: The Parsons Peebles Monarchs made a slow start before running out reasonably comfortable winners 53-39 over the Newcastle Diamonds. Sam Masters was in top form with 13 points being ably backed up by Max Clegg and Ricky Wells with 10 apiece. The Diamonds were led by guest Ben Barker with 10 points.

NEXT MEETING: Sheffield Tigers are the visitors in SGB Championship action. Heavily tipped as pre-season favourites to lift the league the Tigers have already visited Armadale once this season and they left with only a 4 point defeat. So another tough tie will be in order.