Away League Campaign Starts At Cowley

PREVIEW Tuesday 26th May 2026, 6:21pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It is back to Championship action for Edinburgh Monarchs on Wednesday night as they make the trip to Cowley to take on the Oxford Cheetahs in their opening away league fixture of the season.

It has been so far, so good for the Monarchs who have kept an unblemished with victories over Workington and their hosts in this one already recorded at Armadale.

So, it is a case of keeping that momentum going albeit against an Oxford team that will be looking for revenge after an undermanned Cheetahs side went down 54-36 at Armadale a couple of Fridays ago.

That night Peter Schroeck's side arrived at Armadale minus four of their regulars with their replacements failing to impress and with all bar Erik Riss back for this one the Cheetahs will be looking to rectify that defeat.

Riss's place taken by Berwick's Nick Morris who has been a popular guest choice so far this year given his low average after returning to the sport late last year from a two year ban.

Elsewhere Luke Killeen's return to action ended prematurely after another off at Belle Vue on Monday but the Team GB U21 star has been named to return to a line-up that is spearheaded by former Monarchs captain Sam Masters.

For the Monarchs there is one change to their normal line-up also with number one Dan Thompson still on the sidelines with a broken collarbone Drew Kemp steps in to deputise, Kemp having recorded a paid 9 score while doing the same in the Armadale encounter.

Monarchs trips to Cowley have seen a mixed bag of results since the Cheetahs returned to the second tier but confidence can be taken from their last visit in June last year where a one point victory was secured with current team members Kye Thomson, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna and Jonatan Grahn scoring paid 36 between them.

There has also been track experience for Jordy Loftus and Mitch Cluff so it is a trip into the expected for all of the Monarchs.

They will come up against a Cheetahs side desperate for victory to get their season on track though with elimination from both cup competitions and that heavy defeat at Armadale already in the books the home men know they can't afford any slip ups on their own shale should a playoff place be achieved, this the minimum expectation of a team many tipped to be among the divisions best prior to seasons start.

All in all, an intriguing looking encounter looks to be on the cards with those that can't make it along able to watch on BSN, tapes-up 19:30.