Double Duel with Berwick on Friday

NEWS Wednesday 26th July 2023, 10:07pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Fans of the Stellar Monarchs and Stellar Monarchs Academy have not seen a lot of action at Armadale Speedway in recent weeks, but there is a double dose on Friday as they try to make up for lost time with the fixtures. It will be Monarchs v Berwick Bandits at 7pm followed by Monarchs Academy v Berwick Bullets.

Details of admission and streaming arrangements are on the club website. It will be a particularly important match for the Championship Monarchs against one of their rivals for a Playoff position. Monarchs did exceptionally well to win at Berwick last Saturday, but it is equally important that they win at home – and that is not made any easier by the continuing absence of injured Paco Castagna and Lasse Fredriksen. Adam Roynon guests in place of Fredriksen.

Berwick have Rory Schlein back in action but James Pearson comes in for injured Jacob Hook. It could be just as tight as Saturday's thriller at Shielfield.

Monarchs' team manager Alex Harkess says "There are no easy matches for us this year, but Friday's is a match that we must win, and there is no reason to think that we won't win.

"Hopefully they will all produce what they are capable of, if Kye continues to improve as he did at Berwick, if the top two do what they usually do, if Bastian keeps moving forward – though he could do with making a few gates to make life a bit easier for himself, then we will be OK, simple as that!"

Monarchs are in sixth place in the Championship with Berwick two places lower, and both need points badly. Monarchs' two victories have both been away from home while Bandits' sole win in the league was over highly-rated Scunthorpe at Shielfield.

Friday's double header will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 28th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Josh Pickering (captain), Bastian Borke, Kye Thomson, rider replacement for Paco Castagna, Craig Cook, Dayle Wood, Adam Roynon (guest).

FTS BANDITS: Rory Schlein, Jonas Knudsen, Jye Etheridge, Leon Flint (captain), Thomas Jorgensen, James Pearson (guest), Connor Coles.

The Stellar Monarchs Academy have won four matches in the National League this year, more than their senior counterparts, but they have accepted that they will not gain one of the only two Playoff positions. Nevertheless an entertaining match is in prospect as the second part of the double header, especially with the surprise return of former Rye House rider Steve Boxall in Berwick colours.

Boxall is a double individual champion of the UK third tier league and could significantly strengthen the Bullets alongside Connor Coles, Danny Phillips and Greg Blair.

On the Academy side Max Perry steps in to guest for injured Jacob Hook and the home side are looking to pick up the two points for the win plus the aggregate, having won at Berwick recently by a handsome margain.

Team boss Scott Wilson said "We have had an up and down time in the last fortnight and yet another injury blow to deal with having lost Jacob Hook. We will look to end a busy period with a win and three league points this evening before a month-long break in matches. Hopefully by the time we resume we will have Jacob and Alex Spooner back in the side, allowing us to track almost a full team again".

Adam Roynon takes over as no. 1 for the Academy with Max Clegg having been given a revised average.

Friday 28th July: Monarchs Academy v Berwick Bullets (National Development League), Armadale, following Championship fixture.

STELLAR MONARCHS ACADEMY: Adam Roynon, Mark Parker, rider replacement for Alex Spooner, Max Perry (guest), Max Clegg, Micky Simpson, Dayle Wood.

GHT BULLETS: Connor Coles, Jamie Halder, Greg Blair (captain), Danny Phillips, Steve Boxall, Kieran Douglas, Mason Watson.

Full Result Details