Next up Champs Poole at Armadale

NEWS Thursday 3rd August 2023, 12:42pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Having taken five league points from their two matches with Berwick in the last fortnight, things don't get any easier for the Stellar Monarchs as they face the mighty Championship winners of the last two years, Poole Pirates, at Armadale this Friday (7:30pm).

Poole are flying high once more with a top four of Richard Lawson, Steve Worrall and the Aussie Cook brothers Ben and Zach, and they don't lack for backup either. Monarchs rode very well at home last week, especially heat leaders Josh Pickering, Craig Cook and back-to-form Kye Thomson, but they are still missing Paco Castagna and have Max Clegg stepping up from the Stellar Academy team in the absence of Lasse Fredriksen at reserve.

It's the start of a very tough period in the next two weeks or so when Oxford will also visit Armadale while there are away fixtures at Poole and Redcar.

Nevertheless victory is certainly being targeted on Friday against the Pirates. Team manager Alex Harkess says "Poole are coming with a reputation, and people will look at it and say they are probably favourites. But if our three heat leaders perform how they did last week, for me it will be very, very close. And if we can get our reserves scoring then I'm hopeful. If the track was similar to last Friday, I'd be very happy.

"I never look at us being underdogs at home, never ever. If we do what we are supposed to do we will be OK."

Monarchs currently sit in sixth place in the Championship, good enough for the playoffs if they can stay there, but there is going to be a fierce fight for that spot probably featuring Berwick (now strengthened), Plymouth and Birmingham.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 4th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Poole Pirates (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

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

WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, Kyle Newman, Ben Cook, Zach Cook, Steve Worrall (Captain), Anders Rowe, Adam Roynon.

The Championship Fixture will be followed by a Northern Junior League match between Armadale Angels and West Lothian Wildcats.

Full Result Details