Can the Academy stop the Champs?

NEWS Thursday 19th September 2024, 10:24pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

The 2024 Armadale season comes to its conclusion this SATURDAY night with an interesting match pitting the Stellar Academy side against a Leicester Cubs team who are unbeaten this season, with this match the only remaining one! Before that, on Friday, the senior Monarchs travel to Scunthorpe for the second leg of the BSN Series semi-final (with Monarchs 9 points adrift) and the Academy side race their final away fixture against Middlesbrough at Redcar.

So it's a hectic finish and on the face of it the Academy side will be up against it in the Saturday match. They are currently fifth in the table and will rise to fourth if they win at Middlesbrough, but if not they can still get there by beating Leicester.

It is certainly what Scott Wilson and his team members intend to do. Scott says "It presents a tough task for us as Leicester arrive already crowned as league champions and have won every match so far this season. Only we can stop them recording a perfect season! I'm sure the team will use this as extra motivation and battle hard to end the season with a win."

Stars of the Cubs team are Joe Thompson. Vinnie Foord and Max James who have all been riding in the Championship this season, and made progress. James of course is a Monarchs' rider in that competition so he has gained extra knowledge of Armadale. The home men have not always hit form together but they do have the personnel to cause an upset.

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

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Saturday 21st September: Edinburgh Monarchs Academy v Leicester Cubs (National Development League), Armadale, 7:00pm.

STELLAR MONARCHS ACADEMY: Connor Coles (Capt.), Harry McGurk (guest), Sam McGurk, Dayle Wood, Max Perry, Mark Parker, Kyran Lyden.

LEICESTER CUBS: Joe Thompson (Capt.), Sonny Springer, Tom Spencer, Max James, Vinnie Foord, Lee Harrison (guest), Arran Butcher.

During the evening there will be two National Junior League matches staged, West Lothian Wildcats v Ashfield and Armadale Angels v West Lothian Wildcats.