Historic few days coming up

NEWS Wednesday 20th October 2021, 8:36pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The What the Fork Monarchs are heading in to a three day period which includes two home and one away matches, all of huge significance, with an Armadale Devils match tagged on at the end on Saturday to complete the feast of Speedway.

Monarchs compete in the Premier Playoff semi-final on Thursday and Friday against Glasgow Tigers, away at Ashfield for the first leg. Monarchs of course knocked Glasgow out of the Knockout Cup a week ago but this week the teams start level again, with one potentially important team change on the visiting Tigers' side on Friday.

Kye Thomson has been a revelation in his first season for Monarchs, and he feels that he and his colleagues are ready for whatever the meetings bring.

"I think we can be a lot stronger this time at Tigers' track, a few of the boys had some dramas with their machines last time which they will have sorted.

"Since we changed our team we've now had a few meetings together and we have a solid side. We all get along and I think it has showed in our last few performances."

Monarchs will be fielding the same septet for all three matches, with the first leg of the Knockout Cup Final against Poole following the Glasgow matches.

There is a surprise in the Glasgow team for the second leg as Marcin Nowak is apparently getting married. He will be replaced at reserve by former Monarchs' heat leader Cameron Heeps. Based on last week's performance by Nowak this is a substantial strengthening.

After the Playoff semi Monarchs will have to speedily re-focus for the visit of Poole Pirates on Saturday afternoon at 2:30, in the Knockout Cup Final. Following the Cup Final the Armadale Devils will take on Mildenhall Fen Tigers in their final home meeting in the National Development League. Admission for the afternoon will be at normal Monarchs' prices but the Devils' organisers are asking for donations from those staying to watch the second match to assist with costs.

Pirates will have Glasgow's Connor Bailey in place of their injured reserve Stefan Nielsen. The second leg is scheduled for Poole next Wednesday evening.

Separate programmes will be available for all three of the Armadale meetings, at normal prices.

As with all Armadale matches this season all three of the Friday and Saturday matches will be Live Streamed, however the stream will be available only to those outwith a 25 mile radius of the track. Anyone within that limit but unable to attend should email us here.

THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS

Thursday 21st October: Glasgow v What the Fork Monarchs (Championship Playoff semi-final first leg), Ashfield, 7:30pm

Friday 22nd October: What the Fork Monarchs v Glasgow (Championship Playoff semi-final second leg), Armadale, 7:30pm

WHAT THE FORK MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Anders Rowe, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Drew Kemp, Jason Edwards (guest)

ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Craig Cook, Sam Jensen, Broc Nicol, Tom Brennan, Ricky Wells (capt.), Cameron Heeps (guest), Connor Bailey

Saturday 23rd October: What the Fork Monarchs v Poole (Championship KO Cup Final first leg), Armadale, 2:30pm

WHAT THE FORK MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Anders Rowe, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Drew Kemp, Jason Edwards (guest)

POOLE PIRATES: Stevie Worrall, Danyon Hume, Rory Schlein, Ben Cook, Danny King (capt.), Connor Bailey (guest), Benjamin Basso

Saturday 23rd October: Armadale Stellar Devils v Mildenhall Fen Tigers (National Development League), Armadale, following the Monarchs v Poole match

ARMADALE STELLAR DEVILS: William Lawson (guest), Gregor Millar, Tom Woolley (capt.), George Rothery, Danny Phillips, Archie Freeman, Lewis Millar

MANCHETTS FEN TIGERS: Jordan Jenkins, rider replacement for Luke Ruddick, Sam Hagon, Nathan Ablitt, Jason Edwards, Sam Bebee, Elliot Kelly

Full Result Details