High-flying Lions will push us hard

NEWS Wednesday 15th May 2019, 7:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Ask anyone following Championship Speedway in 2019 who they expect to win the title and before long the name of Leicester Lions will crop up. They will be a big test for the Staggs Bar Monarchs on Friday in what is our opening Championship fixture of the season. It couldn't be tougher.

Leicester were the first qualifiers confirmed for the Championship Shield semi-finals, and in the Championship have already won away at Eastbourne (with assistance from guest Josh Pickering!) Each of Scott Nicholls, Richie Worrall and Josh Bates is a proven Armadale track specialist so it is easy to see why this will be a very tough match.

Alex Harkess will as usual be marshalling the home troops, and he said "Leicester certainly appear to be one of the top teams in our league from early fixtures. We just have to prove to them what we are capable of, it's up to us. They do have some very good Armadale riders, we just have to be up for it."

Monarchs scored 67 at home last week with all 7 paid for at least 9 points, with Harkess commenting "Our riders did everything that was asked of them during the meeting. They were challenging and passing if they were behind, they all scored as much as we hoped they would. But there won't be many teams coming this season who are as poor as Scunthorpe were."

Also within the next week, Monarchs travel to Birmingham for a league match at Perry Barr.

THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS:

Friday 17th May: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Leicester (Championship), 7:30pm

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

LEICESTER WATLING JCB LIONS: Scott Nicholls (capt.), Connor Mountain, Josh Bates, Ryan Douglas, Richie Worrall, Danny Phillips (guest), Ellis Perks.

Wednesday 22nd May: Birmingham v Staggs Bar Monarchs (Championship)

Full Result Details