Monarchs On the Road For The First Time In 2022

PREVIEW Saturday 16th April 2022, 1:03pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The What the Fork Monarchs will look to build on that excellent 10-point victory last night as they make the short trip to Shielfield tonight to take on the Bandits once again in part of an Easter feast with a national league clash between the Devils and Bullets following the Championship encounter.

The Bandits will be a different kettle of fish around their home shale though and they have already shown they are well dialled in having dismantled Birmingham a couple of week ago.

The score that night was 58-32 to the Bandits with all 7 of the home men taking the chequered flag at least once so the challenge ahead for the Monarchs is clear for all to see.

Track changes prior to last season has opened the bends up at Shielfield allowing for more passing opportunities but it is still key to get to that first bend in front and that will be key this evening.

The Monarchs last visit to Shielfield was an absolutely remarkable performance as the blue and gold men were in blistering form running out victorious by a 26-point margin but any thoughts of a repeat of that type of score line will be far from anyone's minds come tapes up.

Both sides will line up as they did at Armadale last night a match that the home men were undoubtedly the happier with come the end of heat 15, dominant performances by top two Sam Masters and Josh Pickering were well backed up by solid scoring the rest of the way notable mentions going to new boys Lasse Fredriksen and Paco Castagna who both picked up their first heat win for the Monarchs.

For the Bandits there was the expected strong performances by former Monarchs Ricky Wells and Theo Pijper, but boss Gary Flint would perhaps have hoped for a little more the rest of the way and his men will be under no illusions what is expected of them tonight.

A note to remember that with this being a double header the action starts a little earlier than usual with a 6.30pm prompt tapes up to allow for 30 heats to be completed. For those not in attendance live updates will be available on the Monarchs website as the blue and gold go looking for their away points of the season.

Edinburgh What the Fork Monarchs: Sam Masters, Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Jacob Hook, James Sarjeant

Berwick Bandits: Chris Harris, Ty Proctor, Theo Pijper, Leon Flint, Ricky Wells, Jye Etheridge, Kyle Bickley

Full Result Details