Title Partner
NEWS Wednesday 14th June 2017, 5:31pm
Edinburgh Monarchs
The Ipswich Witches head to Armadale this Friday looking to put a massive dent in the Parsons Peebles Monarchs SGB Championship hopes.
Many are tipping this as the biggest challenge of the Monarchs season so far with Ipswich heading north with quite possibly the most powerful top 5 in the league
One of the reasons for the level of concern among the Monarchs faithful this week is the experience and pedigree among the Witches line-up. The Suffolk men are led brilliantly by current British Champion Danny King who is a consistent high scorer with plenty of Armadale experience.
However King’s experience is nothing compared to the two riders that join King in the heat leader roles in the form of Rory Schlein and Justin Sedgmen.
Schlein is enjoying his finest season in years after making the step down to the second tier and as a 3 time Scottish Open Champion and former league winning Monarch he will take some beating.
Sedgmen comes close to Schlein in Monarchs folklore with back to back league winning campaigns in the Blue and Gold in 2014 and 2015 and having won this year’s Harrisons Scottish Open then he has shown he has not forgotten the quickest way around Armadale.
As if the wasn’t enough throw in the rider voted away rider of the year by Monarchs fans in 2014 in Cameron Heeps and former Plymouth number 1 Kyle Newman then you can see why many think a colossal encounter awaits.
With seasons averages now changing on a fortnightly basis the Monarchs have a change in the riding order with Josh Pickering dropping to reserve and Max Clegg moving to the number 4 position.
Fortunately though Clegg and Ricky Wells will both take their place despite having to pull out of their last rides last Friday having shaken off knee and rib knocks respectively.
Monarchs co-promoter Alex Harkess is aware of the challenge ahead but is still expecting his team to come out on top stating ‘We always look to win at home and although tonight we face a team that looks well suited to our track I would hope we will have enough.’
Harkess also joking’ we will need to talk Justin Sedgmen out of his game. No in all seriousness Justin and Rory (Schlein) are a part of our history and well respected but we hope that they leave here early handed.’
Teams for the SGB Championship match at Armadale on Friday 16th June (start time 7:30pm, gates open 6:30pm), are:
PARSONS PEEBLES MONARCHS: Sam Masters, Mark Riss, Erik Riss, Max Clegg, Ricky Wells, Max Clegg, Mitchell Davey.
IPSWICH TRU7.COM WITCHES: Danny King, Kyle Newman, Justin Sedgmen, Cameron Heeps, Rory Schlein, Connor Mountain, Nathan Greaves
WITCHES LOOKING TO FLY: Ipswich were highly touted at the start of the season and it is easy to see why with a top line of King, Schlein and Sedgmen being well backed up by Cameron Heeps and Kyle Newman. At reserve Connor Mountain and Nathan Greaves are both riding above their starting average so cannot be discounted either. The Witches currently sit third in the table and will be looking to make up ground on the Parsons Peebles Monarchs who top the division.
LAST MEETING: The Parsons Peebles Monarchs ran out comfortable winners 56-34 against an undermanned Redcar Bears. Monarchs captain Sam Masters led the way with an unbeaten 15 point maximum. The bears were led by Ben Barker with 12.
NEXT MEETING: The Monarchs will look to carry on their form at the top of the SGB Championship as Scunthorpe Scorpions head to Armadale in league action.
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Bathgate Road
Armadale
EH48 2PD
