Brough Bound With A Job To Do

PREVIEW Sunday 14th July 2019, 2:27pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs know exactly what is required as we head for Newcastle on Sunday evening in the 2nd leg of the KO cup semi final.

The first on Friday night was an ultra competitive affair with the Monarchs coming out on top by 14 points so it couldn't be simpler a defeat by less than that or better an the Monarchs are in the final.

That will not be an easy task though with the Diamonds on fine form at Brough Park and looking closer to full strength than they did on Friday.

Lasse Bjerre returns from illness although Thomas Jorgensen is still missing with a shoulder complaint. Glasgow's Paul Starke steps in on the back of a maximum at Ashfield on Friday night and having scored paid 12 on the Tigers victory at Brough earlier in the season.

Elsewhere the Diamonds will have the same riders in place albeit in a slightly different order. Ulrich Ostergaard moving to number 2 with Starke at 5.

The rest of the line-up were the Diamonds main men on Friday night with Steve Worrall, Matty Wethers and Max Clegg all in fine form. All 3 were paid for at least 2 victories in the 54-36 Diamonds victory over Scunthorpe last week and will need to be nullified if the Monarchs are to progress.

The Monarchs do have some pedigree and experience in their ranks round the northeast circuit though and although they will need to be at their best their is no reason why we can't expect big performances from the Blue and Gold. Ricky Wells and Josh Pickering both have excellent Brough records over the last couple of years while Cameron Heeps will be looking to improve on his trapping from our visit early in the season and we all know if he hits the front he takes some passing.

No one will have more to prove than Victor after being signed up then removed from the team by the Diamonds prior to the season while Joel will be looking for a little more consistency than shown on Friday.

The reserve battle could be key and how refreshing was it to see Willie pop out the gate and battle well for points in his last 2 rides on Friday night, a repeat of this required at Brough would go a long way to seeing the Monarchs reach the final.

The Monarchs last 5 visits to Brough have seen defeats of 10,16 and 2 points along with a draw and a Monarchs victory and of course 4 of those 5 results would do the job of matched on Sunday.

A tense affair lies ahead but the feeling in the Monarchs camp is that a result is achieve-able, the mindset in the team is not to defend a 14 point lead but to go out and treat the match like a one off. Every point will be vital though and we can't afford any passengers.

Can the boys do it? A strong traveling support is expected to cheer on the boys but for those not in attendance live updates will be available on the official website.

Full Result Details