Monarchs ready for a fight

NEWS Thursday 29th August 2024, 11:11am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs face table-toppers poole at Armadale on Friday night and call on guest riders Troy Batchelor and Drew Kemp to cover for the regrettable absences of their own men Justin Sedgmen and Kye Thomson who have both been injured in the past week. It would be a tough enough battle with a full team but the guests are capable at their best of doing the job Monarchs need.

Monarchs have already defeated Poole in the Knockout Cup early in the season though they went out on aggregate, and they have also performed well down at Poole. The Pirates will certainly be looking for a win to cement their top spot in the table, which then ensures they can choose their opponents in the Playoff semis.

Poole use experienced Paul Starke in place of injured recent signing Vinnie Foord at number 7 in their team. Otherwise the visitors are at full strength with a top-class heat leader trio of Richard Lawson, Ben Cook and Tom Brennan.

Team manager Alex Harkess doesn't know what to expect. "Poole are high in the league. Yet when they came early in the season, we were 8 points up after four races. We didn't keep that up but we still kept ahead and won the match. That has happened with teams at the top whereas we've lost to teams lower down.

"So I am no less hopeful of beating Poole than I was against Scunthorpe last week, because the bottom line is: I don't know what we are going to do!"

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

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

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

STELLAR MONARCHS: Josh Pickering, Drew Kemp, Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Troy Batchelor, Max James, Connor Coles.

WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, Sam Hagon, Ben Cook (Capt), Zach Cook, Tom Brennan, Tobias Thomsen, Paul Starke.

Full Result Details