Must Win For Monarchs

PREVIEW Wednesday 4th September 2019, 10:00am

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs are hoping it is third time lucky as they once again head south to take on the Somerset Rebels in a twice abandoned match on Wednesday night.

Rain has been the cause of the postponement each of the last 2 occasions and without wanting to tempt fate the forecast finally looks favourable for what is without doubt a must win match for the Monarchs should we have any chance to progress to the end of season playoffs.

As it stands Leicester, Glasgow despite their home defeat to Scunthorpe and Redcar look nailed on for the top 3 positions with the Rebels heavy favourites for the final spot currently sitting on a +6 margin for away points gained versus home points dropped. The Monarchs currently sit on -2 in the same measure but a win at the Oak Tree Arena would lead to a minimum of a 6 point swing and leave the Monarchs at worse two points behind their rivals with matches left against Berwick and Newcastle to try and gain further away points. The Rebels would then finish their league campaign at Armadale this Friday so a double over Garry May's men is vital otherwise a minor miracle would be required this weekend.

Of course there are other sides in the mix with Berwick and Sheffield also chasing that last place also.

The Monarchs task will be made all the harder by the absence of Cameron Heeps, Heeps is making progress in his recovery but this match comes a little early Leicester's Ellis Perks has been booked to gust. Perk's showed up well at the Oak Tree Arena earlier in the season in the Lions win earlier in the season taking the scalps of Rory Schlein and Nico Covatti in his 8+1 point haul a repeat of this would be much appreciated.

Elsewhere Sam Masters will be looking to carry on his recent unbelievable form and put the disappointment of a fourth place finish in the Championship Riders Individual Championship at Sheffield on Sunday behind him. Masters is a former Rebel and was also part of our Championship Pairs winning team at the arena with Max Fricke back in 2014.

Backup will come from Josh Pickering and Ricky Wells the later in particular looking to turn around a recent wretched run of away form.

A repeat of James Sarjeant's 8 point score for Glasgow at the Oak Tree arena would give the Monarchs a solid platform to build on with key performances needed from Willie and Conner at reserve where both have the advantage in the experience stakes over their counterparts.

The Rebels are at full strength and it appears their top men are rounding into form at just the right time. Rory Schlein moves back to number one for the start of September but the strength at the top end of the team is shown by the fact that Nick Morris and Chris Harris are both within 0.05 of Schlein with figures in excess of 8.60. Nico Covatti rounding out a powerhouse top 4.

The remainder of the team maybe short of experience but is definitely high in enthusiasm with Anders Rowe having a stellar debut year in the Championship. The recent move to the number 2 spot does not seem to have fazed the young Dorset racer. Luke Harris and Nathan Stoneman have also had their moments and will need to be subdued should the Monarchs be to get the result they so desperately need.

So a huge match lies ahead in what is realistically if not mathematically last chance saloon for the Monarchs league title hopes.

Keep an eye on the Monarchs official website for updates!

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