Sam Masters returns to Monarchs

NEWS Monday 15th July 2019, 9:00am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs are altering their team in time for this week's matches and will include former captain Sam Masters for the first time since 2017.

Also joining will be 19 year old Mildenhall rider Matt Marson. He is a 2-point rider while Masters has the whopping figure of 10.78.

The motivations for the change are to bring club asset Masters back in to the side (otherwise there was a great danger this would never be possible), plus a desire to improve the team's race winning ability away from home.

Sam, who has won every national trophy available in his time with the Monarchs, said "It's about time I got back to Edinburgh. I didn't really think it would happen though, it was so difficult for Edinburgh to organise.

"Leaving the club became a big regret. I had to try it to see what I could do overseas but I didn't realise it was going to be so hard to get back in. I wouldn't have left if I had known what it was going to be like. I can't wait to get started.

"I never wanted to ride for anyone else in the Championship. It gives us a good top four and we'll all be going for it - don't worry about that.

"I'm sorry for the riders who have to be left out, it's never nice."

Marson, who was born in Perth, Western Australia, has been at Armadale this season as he won three support heats at the Scottish Open, and expressed a liking for the Armadale circuit that night. He had been brought up by Cameron Heeps. He won two heats for Mildenhall on Sunday in his best performance of the season.

It means a change in the balance of the team, obviously, from a reasonably solid side to possibly a top heavy one for the time being, though the tail-enders might prove us wrong in that. After Sunday's performance though, most will agree it is time for change.

We say goodbye and thanks to our two friendly Swedes Victor Palovaara and Joel Andersson, and it is never easy to do that. They have generally tried hard and provided us with entertainment over the last two seasons, and we hope we will see them again.