Action from a Scorpions visit last season Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

Looking for 50 points and Cup progress

NEWS Wednesday 8th May 2019, 8:39pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs face a different kind of challenge (and the match is on SATURDAY this week) as they seek to overcome Scunthorpe Scorpions, who hold a lead of 8 points from the first leg of the Knockout Cup tie at their track in April.

So a 50-point score will do the trick, though Monarchs have only reached that mark once so far this season. Both teams will be at full strength and Scunthorpe will be equally determined to hold on to their aggregate advantage. It's a quarter final tie so the winners will be in the semis, and the losers on the scrapheap as far as this competition is concerned.

Monarchs' team manager Alex Harkess stressed the importance of a favourable result. "Obviously our aim is to win by more than 8, it would be a major disappointment to go out of the competition as early as this. Ridiculous that whoever goes through in this tie will probably not ride the semi-final till who knows when. Nevertheless we want to remain in the competition, it is very, very important for us. It's important that we do it and do it well, I would not like to be going into the last heat 9 points up, or 7 points, or anything like that.

"I have spoken to William Lawson about the important part he can play, riding a different engine. He did tell me he would get double figures on Saturday!"

THIS WEEK'S MEETING:

Saturday 11th May: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Scunthorpe (Knockout Cup quarter final 2nd leg), 7:00pm

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Ricky Wells (capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Josh Pickering, Joel Andersson, Cameron Heeps, William Lawson, Luke Ruddick.

SCUNTHORPE HEB SCORPIONS: Josh Auty, Danny Ayres, Jason Garrity, Stefan Nielsen, Jake Allen, Ryan Kinsley, Josh Bailey.