Another big weekend

NEWS Thursday 1st August 2019, 1:23pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Once again it is a slightly altered Staggs Bar Monarchs lineup which faces this week's visitors Scunthorpe, sporting star men Jake Allen, Ben Barker and Josh Auty plus the 'bucking bronco' from the British Final, Danny Ayres.

It should be a much better Scorpions' lineup than the one heavily beaten in a cup tie earlier in the season. On that occasion their captain Garrity failed to appear but Barker has since been brought as a replacement.

The home team should settle down now with Sam Masters successfully re-introduced and now partnering new boy James Sarjeant, plus William Lawson restored to a reserve berth. William, who rode well last week, should be better equipped than he has been for a while.

Team manager Alex Harkess said "This week's opposition Scunthorpe have not been great visitors in the past, we only hope to start with that seven Scunthorpe riders turn up. That would be a good start for them. I hope it's an enjoyable night.

Josh Auty is obviously a very good rider and capable of doing almost anything on the tracks that suit him, but Armadale doesn't seem to be his track at the moment. I'm sure Scunthorpe have a few riders who will give us good races."

Friday 2nd August: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Scunthorpe (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

Teams:

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Sam Masters, James Sarjeant, Josh Pickering, Ricky Wells (capt.), Cameron Heeps, Connor Coles, William Lawson.

SCUNTHORPE HEB SCORPIONS: Jake Allen (capt.), Danny Ayres, Stefan Nielsen, Josh Auty, Ben Barker, Ryan Kinsley, Simon Lambert.

Monarchs head to Scunthorpe on Sunday for the return fixture. Sam Masters has a previously-arranged fixture in Poland to honour and the guest replacement will be Rasmus Jensen.

Full Result Details