Monarchs Look To Rebound In The Borders

PREVIEW Saturday 22nd April 2023, 10:16am

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Stellar Monarchs have an immediate chance to dust themselves down and go again as they head for Shielfield on Saturday night with realistically only pride to race for after the Bandits victory at Armadale on Friday,

Progression from the BSN Shield group is now gone barring a freak set of results so it is all about getting back on track for the Monarchs in the Borders.

The home men are off course on the back of a heavy home defeat of their own to Glasgow seven days ago so they will be looking to get on the board in front of their home fans and give themselves a chance to top the group.

The Monarchs recent record at Shielfield is a bit up and down but they were victors last time out with a 46-44 victory in July last year.

That win was brilliantly led by Josh Pickering and the now departed Sam Masters who recorded 29 points between them and a repeat is probably required from Pickering and Craig Cook if the Monarchs are to run out victorious.

Behind that the rest of the men in Blue and Gold will all look to improve on previous visits to Shielfield with Kye, Paco, Lasse and Jacob still trying to work out the quickest way round the Shielfield circuit.

Kyle Bickley was a Bandit the last two years so he will be looking to kick start his Championship level season in familiar surroundings.

The home men even given for the result at Armadale will have a point to prove after going down by 13 to Glasgow last week in a match they could only muster three heat winners.

With progression to the semi finals still in their hands no one will expect a repeat of this.

There is one change to the Berwick line-up from Friday with Oxford's Luke Killeen stepping in for Nathan Stoneman after Stoneman's heavy knock in heat 4.

Tapes up is at 7pm with live updates available on the Monarchs official website for those that can't make it to cheer on their favourites.

Full Result Details